Did I Expect too much?

Companies like PS Audio can give better value for the money spent by selling direct to the customer. They benifit by getting a higher price but the customer also benefits by not paying for the middleman/distributor mark ups. A win/win

I liked the Charney Companion speaker I heard with the AER BD3 driver.  This is a very lively sounding system with a surprisingly rich sound, not the sort of lean and mean sound one use to hear in single driver systems, and the top end was reasonably smooth and extended.  I am betting you will like your speakers a lot after break in.  I heard both Companion speakers (one had the AER driver, the other had a Voxativ) driven by single ended 300B amps.  The combination worked very well.  The little bit of extra lower midrange and upper bass that 300B amps typically provide would help most single driver systems.

Working with custom builders is a good way to get just what you want from your amp, including the choice of premium parts.  As for your speakers, there is really not much you can do for DIY upgrade of a speaker without a crossover, except to change wire and binding post as you have done.  How about going completely nuts and putting a BD5 in your speaker? 

@larryi 

I own a pair of Excaliburs with the AER BD 3. Sounds great. Have you heard the AER BD 5?  I would be too scared that I would get the upgrade itch, but could never see myself spending that kind of money on a speaker. Of course, perhaps I can wait long enough for my hearing to decrease just enough to not be able to hear the difference between the BD 3 and BD 5 lol

No difference with the auto manufacturing industry.  They make huge profits between what it cost them to make the cars (materials, labor, etc.) and what they ultimately charge for them.  It's called..........."Capitalism."   Ultimately, it's up to the consumer to figure out what's a scam and what's not.  Happy listening.       

@dseltz 

Are the AER BD 5s really 36,000 Euros?  I don’t see me parting with that kind of long coin.