Tube pre-amps/line stages are as simple, or as complex, as you fear/require depending on your actual usage and sonic demands.
For example, I'm aware of a tube line stage which can be left on 24/365, uses easily acquired and inexpensive small tubes which have a manufacturers claim of a 5 year life expectancy. It is as close to plug and play as you can get and (if you like it!) sounds pretty good. If you WANT to change the tone you can by putting in a few different tubes BUT you don't have to. No frills, not eye candy, will not impress anyone! Not built like a tank either. But then its simple and there is not much in it to fail either. Used it costs less than $1000. For me it is a bargain in that unlike solid state stuff I at least have an option to change its tone to accommodate a new piece of equipment (recall the importance of synergy) without having to start a search for a new pre-amp.
I also have a fairly decent high(er) end pre-amp with a phono stage. Another no frills unit, 4 tubes, sounds pretty good with new production tubes, well built, and looks nice as well. Cost well less than 1000 used.
Whether you become paranoid about tube selection or not depends on how anal you are about things, and or how much you feel you want to or must depend on others for advise to get you where you want to go. I've been fiddling with tubes a long time now and unhesitatingly use new production tubes often, and often in preference to some of the NOS tubes you see others recommend. So I guess you can take 'tubes' as far as you want to go, or not, but with SS stuff you are fairly stuck with what you get, tonally speaking at least.
We know ourselves better than others so do what makes you comfortable. FWIW it took me a long time to jump from SS stuff to tubes for reasons of fear born out of ignorance but I've never looked back. And I used my first tubed CDP and first tubed pre-amp for many years without ever exploring tube rolling or maintenance.
For example, I'm aware of a tube line stage which can be left on 24/365, uses easily acquired and inexpensive small tubes which have a manufacturers claim of a 5 year life expectancy. It is as close to plug and play as you can get and (if you like it!) sounds pretty good. If you WANT to change the tone you can by putting in a few different tubes BUT you don't have to. No frills, not eye candy, will not impress anyone! Not built like a tank either. But then its simple and there is not much in it to fail either. Used it costs less than $1000. For me it is a bargain in that unlike solid state stuff I at least have an option to change its tone to accommodate a new piece of equipment (recall the importance of synergy) without having to start a search for a new pre-amp.
I also have a fairly decent high(er) end pre-amp with a phono stage. Another no frills unit, 4 tubes, sounds pretty good with new production tubes, well built, and looks nice as well. Cost well less than 1000 used.
Whether you become paranoid about tube selection or not depends on how anal you are about things, and or how much you feel you want to or must depend on others for advise to get you where you want to go. I've been fiddling with tubes a long time now and unhesitatingly use new production tubes often, and often in preference to some of the NOS tubes you see others recommend. So I guess you can take 'tubes' as far as you want to go, or not, but with SS stuff you are fairly stuck with what you get, tonally speaking at least.
We know ourselves better than others so do what makes you comfortable. FWIW it took me a long time to jump from SS stuff to tubes for reasons of fear born out of ignorance but I've never looked back. And I used my first tubed CDP and first tubed pre-amp for many years without ever exploring tube rolling or maintenance.