I doubt this is a new phenomenon. I certainly risk buying things just by myself where pre-internet I would find someone that knew about the thing (cars, knitting, lamps, whatever) and tell them my issue and see what they said. now there is some expextation on my part that fifteen minutes of reading will somehow allow me to drop a lot of cash in some specialized area i have no edperience in and not be taken advantage of as a sucker in the market place?

If you are spending money, possibly just having the worlds info at your fingertips doesn't make up for a lack of experience.