Thanks for all of your thoughts and opinions.
I think part of the drive to continue to purchase gear is all of the online ads and emails we receive about the next best component. Much of my journey has centered around NOS tubes, which are drying up quite rapidly ( example being the EL34 tubes). Perhaps when I can no longer afford the EL34 pricing, I will stop hunting! Or at least until my gear fails and needs replacement. Again, many thanks for your insights.

