If I'm looking for "Tube Sound", why would I put a Tube Pre in front of a SS amp?

Most people I heard of drive electrostatics with tube amps. Preamp is not the most important component. Only tube power amp gives real taste of tube sound.

There are also hybrid power amps, Lamm and Ypsilon monoblocks come to mind. Lamm uses one tube. Of course, he also makes SETs and his preamp and phono stages are all tube. 
Perhaps one day they will invent something that will sound better than both in every way, perhaps not.

Atmashere, Nelson Pass and John Curl are not the best SS designers in the world. You forgot Rasmussen of Gryphon and also some other European designers. Besides, Vladimir Shushurin of Lamm makes hybrid power amps that are in essense SS.
You keep making incorrect statements from time to time.

I might’ve misread it, Al.
If so, my apologies, Ralph.

I heard this Gryphon story. Thinking along the same line, I would say that good reviews are equally unethical.

By the way, Ralph, what turntable was in that Atma-Sphere/Classic Auduo/Purist Audio system that I saw on Purist Audio website. I thought that it had no real drive and as a consequence the sound was somewhat boring. Yes, that's youtube, not real auditioning, yet I heard many there and they all sound quite different. The best to my ear - Ypsilon/Lansche/Thales/HB Cables.

Not evaluations, Ralph, just some ideas. I don't like that table.
Unlike Thales in Ypsilon/Lansche/HB Cables system or Pear Audio top of the line table.