Do tube dampers improve sound?

I am not saying that the dampers work or don't work. I, too, THINK I hear an improvement when using Herbie's Halos on 6dj8-type tubes. It really makes little sense, and is kinda sickening actually, that the sound of, say, a $5K phono stage which is said to be the "end all" by its maker and ardent users, could be so dramatically improved by a $10 plastic tube ring. There is just something odd and wrong with that equation. (I realize that such oddities aren't restricted to tube dampers).

Steve:
I hope you didn't infer from my post that I was questioning the efficacy of your dampers in particular because that certainly was not my intention. I have your Halos and, like I said, I think they have been of benefit. As an aside, I like your phono mat to an even greater degree! :-)

My real point is that when a manufacturer designs and builds a piece, they virtually always wax poetic about the sound quality. But, if the sound can be improved so dramatically through the use of tube dampers, you’d think they'd have already factored that into the equation. I guess what your saying is that the improvement realized depends more on the tube used than the equipment, so dampers should be assessed accordingly.

Yes, interesting..... ;-)