Integrateds: Why do they all SUCK?

Well, I'm glad to see there's serious answers to this question in spite of certain members trying to push this meme that I'm a troll.

I'm not dead set on the phono...I would just like not have to have another box to upgrade.

The Anthem may be interesting. I normally wouldn't consider them...

Modwright might be an interesting audition.

LSA is hard to approach because you can only get them from a junk dealer (Underwood HiFi).

VERY suspicious of the Creek. Will it really compete with field we're talking about?

I just really don't want to have to upgrade the pre (thousands upon thousands), upgrade the phono (more thousands), just to find out something doesn't mesh well with something else.

I’m seriously starting to despair at finding a high quality integrated with a REAL active line stage and a high-quality MC phono stage. I’m trying to get off this separates upgrade spiral. Is this just not possible?

I'll check out the ones people are posting...but man, researching integrated amps is like a case study in things that SUCK.

A re-occurring theme in these integrated units are these digital volume control schemes, usually some kind of electronically-controlled resistor ladder. Even very high-quality units everyone loves like the Esoterics use these. Virtually all solid-state integrated units use these things...from Simaudio, to Esoteric to Marantz to Luxman all the way down to Yamaha. Even the more boutique brands like Musical Fidelity...even Accuphase!

WHY??? Am I just being bigoted against these electronic line stages? Can these really provide the lushness and three-dimentionality you would expect out of a "proper" active class A line stage?

?? Real active linestages mean the small signal is run through some kind of active amplification device (triodes, FETs, etc).

Volume control via some attenuation scheme is garbage, whether it's mechanically or electronically controlled. 

Am I fundamentally misunderstanding something? 

Sources: MoFi Studio Deck + AT-OC9ML/II + Musical Fidelity LX-LPS. Dedicated audio PC + Holo Cyan DSD.
Pre: Schiit Freya
Amp: Linnenberg Allegros
Speakers: Fritz Carbon VII SE

I want to upgrade the pre, phono stage and speakers. I’m not stuck on the phono, maybe the case can be made I should upgrade the table and arm before worrying about the phono. But I really want to move up my preamp game, the Freya was always just a filler piece.

I highly value soundstage and imaging. I would also like more resolution, and I really, really miss physical dynamic power. I’m trying to get the best speakers I can, but the need to upgrade these other components is fighting against this goal, so I hoped an integrated could help.

What about PrimaLunas? Are these things really the giant monster-killers a lot of people claim they are?