Good to remember that tube amps are not practical for all and impossible for some. For mixed HT and 2 channel use they are not practical. Can't imagine watching TV and movies with $1500 300b tubes😁
My Benchmark DAC2 has a HT Bypass, but I don't need it. I use XLR outs to send the signal to my Dynaudio Powered Monitors for Movies/TV, and the provided single-ended outputs are going to my Art Audio Diavolo SET which is turned off when the TV is on. If I cared about multichannel (I did up until age 25, but haven't cared since) I would use the HT Bypass feature.
I most always have music on in my home. I bet my system runs at least 8 hours daily. Some days much more. Sure, often as background, but I am not going to use a tube amp day after day with this kind of daily use.
My system is controlled by a smart outlet that is activated by Google Home which also sets a 3 hour timer on the tube amp to power it off. I must tell it to turn on at least 3-4 times a day! I work from home a lot. My tubes are $850-$1200 a pair, but I would likely not use the $1200 pair of Elrogs except for special occasions and run my Emission Labs 300BXLS at 8w instead of their higher wattage rating most of the time which would effectively double or triple the tubes longevity because it's loafing.
Some have small children and do not have the luxury of a dedicated /set aside music room with a door keeping those hot tubes away from children.
No children have been harmed in my pursuit and lust for tubes and SET amps. Knock on wood! :-P
Lastly, I have found SET amps shine on certain kinds of music with jazz being one. So the type of music one listens to also plays a role IMHO and based on my experience.
I agree that certain SETs are limited to some degree by certain genres, but not all SETs fall into that category. My Diavolo amplifier plays at 8wpc or ~15wpc depending on the power transformer windings I use and where I set my autobias circuit to in milliamps which is dependant on the tube I am using. I play very loud house music (presently), deep house music, classic rock, jazz, blues, bluegrass, opera, classical...as long as it's not rap pretty much anything goes. Having a great sounding dynamic speaker as efficient as the DIs affords me the latitude to play whatever I want now with no compromises in volume or quality on any source material, but I'll admit on lesser efficient speakers I've owned in the past there had been previous occasions where things would compress at high volume and soft clip on certain complicated passages more prevalent in certain genres.
Let's not forget we listen to systems, complete systems. The resulting sound is not a matter of amps alone and the right SS amp as part of a well thought out system and tweaks can certainly deliver on the sound adjectives used for SET amps in this thread. I have tweaked my current rig with wire, capacitors, gear, tweaks etc... to the point that I no longer miss my tube amps and SET amps. It can be done as today's technology and gear is making it a real possibility. It's a great big audio world out there with near endless total system possibilities. No single person can possibly have exhausted and experienced all that can be making definitive statements on the best Impossible. We all must find our own way and settle in on the sound we think is wonderful. Once we have done this remember that where we land is based on finite and biased preferences.
I'll let you know if I ever hear one, but I've yet to hear it in 17years. Years ago when I began this pursuit I auditioned a dozen or so SS amp available to me at my old high end store that I worked at for around a decade in CA, and we only had one SET amp in the store to audition. After 2 months of borrowing equipment, I only missed the SET amp. I bought the store demo for 50% off retail and the owner was glad to unload it because he thought SET lovers are all kit builders and won't pay profit. (not entirely untrue) I do agree we all hear things through a bias. Much like my amplifier, I must have a personal auto-bias circuit towards SET amps and their magic.
As long as you're happy with the sound that's all that matters in the end.
