This is a fascinating question. Since I became involved with the hobby
(and to discern the specific use of the term "involved" consider the
difference between Ham and Eggs), much has come and nearly as much has
gone. Although I keep coming back to certain brands and classes of
items, nothing holds a lock on me in any way that could be defined as
'limiting'.

I have some pieces that are near-and-dear at this moment, and I expect
I will always own a pair of AR3a speakers and at least one monster
power-amp. But one of the great pleasures of this hobby is the mixing
and matching of new (to me) things as they happen by... short-or-long
term.

At present, I am nearly done running a Scott 800B through the bench. It
will enjoy some significant play-time when done. Will it supplant the
Revox A720/Scott LK150 permanently? I doubt it, but only time will
tell. Will the Rabco ST-6 supplant the Revox B795? Who knows. The
McIntosh MR-65 is on its way out, as is a duplicative Dynaco SCA-35. I
am presently enjoying an ST-35 in place of the ST-70 driving an AR
Athena sub-sat system... is that permanent? The Dynaco FM-3 alternates
with the FM-5 with the AF-6. The "Wife-Friendly" system (all
solid-state, & intuitive controls) gets large use as well... And we are
negotiating on the new system going into the summer house to replace
the one flooded last summer. Much better than the one lost, but
elevated.

It's a hobby. Not a life. Fun. Theraputic. Always relaxing either in
digging amongst the guts or enjoying the fruits of such digging. In
stalking and capturing wild components and in setting them free
afterwards.

BTW, the scratch-build took a giant leap forward yesterday evening with
a simple-circuit breadboard of one channel that _actually_ worked.
First time lucky.

Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA