bifwynne
Your post and remarks are interesting and rightful thinking....
I have embed my aown audio system, not perfectly for sure, but rightfulle, mechanically, electrically, and acoustically; then my judgement criteria for the difference between S.S. design or tubes design, will comes if i compares to the most essential audio impression, the tonal timbre of an instrument, his naturalness....
When your system begins to be rightfully embed in his 3 dimensions, where resonance and vibrations are controlled, when the electrical noise of the house is not to high, and the acoustic of the room rightly controlled, the more fundamental experience you enjoy is rightful timbre and imaging....
That is my experience....
Absolutely accurate and pure system tonality is an aspirational sonic utopia that can be attempted but is rarely achieved.You are right in the absolute, no audio system is perfect, but when we go in the right direction this "utopia" begins to be a feeling that guide us in the right direction.... That is all my pretense and the sense of my remarks about timbre...
My best tou you fellow....