One reason you may be getting varying opinions of the B&Ws is that they've made many different speakers over the last 30 years or more with the 804 numbers. It's unlikely all the generations were voiced exactly the same. If you have really early ones, you may need to replace surrounds, ferrofluid, or crossover caps eventually.
If I were you, I'd get tickets to a concert or play in Houston, book a hotel room, take your wife on a well-earned night out, and spend the next day listening to some contemporary setups. That'll help orient you a bit & give you a chance to see if there's a dealer you want to wok with. If your wife is like mine, she'll love you for the night out, but might find other things to do for all or part of the next day.
For 7k, the KEF LS60 are getting strong reviews and gives you streaming, amplification, & a new set of speakers