Are your current amps and other gear the best you've ever had?

Yes the best nothing let go.

Not even close, even though some of the devices I still have perform well enough

Soon to part with an MSB Select-2, parted with a Simon Yorke S4 TT / Clearaudio Praedikat - Insider / Goldmund Mimesis 7 pre / Genesis Technologies speakers / Symphonic Line RG 3 ref pre / Audio Physik Medea speakers / Audio Exklusiv 3A active, electrostats...

My current is the best SYSTEM I’ve ever had. I’ve had components that may-or-may-not be better, but never in an equally matched and balanced SYSTEM. Brown (BEL) 1001 Mk-V monos (on loan), Audio Artistry Dvorak speakers, ARC VT-100 III amp, etc.
You can have the BEST amp or whatever but if the preamp driving it isn't the same quality, you won't get the amp's full measure.
The system is the thing.

this pursuit should be so easy as to just define the ’best’ then stop

questions like this are naive and overly simplistic

No. Not even close.