Do true audiophiles own Mcintosh gear

You don't consider transformer coupling the transistors to keep them in their peak operating range innovative?

Not to pick on Mac, but no. Using output transformers, which have been around on tube amps forever, on transistors which do not need them, is not innovative. It means they are willing to trade away sound quality (transparency) in exchange for stability/reliability.

Tube amplifiers (except OTLs) require output transformers, but they are considered a necessary evil. Fortunately, the vacuum tube is such an inherently transparent and musical device that the final result can still be superb even with the loss that occurs through a good output transformer.

the results do not support your conclusions.

Without getting in to critiquing the "results", my point was that using output transformers is hardly innovative. It's about as retro as you can possibly get.