Studies are often reflective of people’s conditioning. When standards get raised and our eyes or ears become more sensitive to the difference, more people will be able to appreciate it.
I didn’t know standard definition sucked until I watched HD TV on a half-decent screen. Now standard definition looks like a scaled up YouTube video. And after watching Blu-rays on a 1080p plasma with a sound system that can handle uncompressed, surround audio, I find it very difficult to sit through a DVD.
Retina screens (here now) and retina-equivalent audio (perhaps coming soon) will usher in a new degree of quality for design, apps, transmedia, and immersive experiences.