I bought the Edge M-8 amp and T-3 preamp (tube) and will receive speakers and electronics next week. If anyone is interested, I will report my impressions as I ease into ownership and setup. Thank you all for your help.
As I stated early on, I am setting up this new system having had no opportunity to listen to any of these pieces. I consider the process an entertaining experiment informed by the research I've done on this and like forums elsewhere.
My compliments to RJ at Green Mountain and to everyone else who contributes to these dynamic collective bodies of opinion and experience.