Why the hate for mcintosh amps?

But there is no good reason to put an output transformer on a "good" solid state amplifier, it can only make it’s performance worse.

If 'performance' means THD numbers then yeah I would agree. However if 'performance' means SQ then I can think of a good reason - you want to drive a lower impedance speaker than the amp is designed for. Another good reason is that you have a much higher power amp than you need - the trafo will improve the dynamics in such an instance. If you don't believe me George you could ask Nige at DIYA he's built a battery-fed LM3886 amp with multi-tapped transformers on the output - they are part of the volume control.

you want to drive a lower impedance speaker than the amp is designed for.

Not for me, sorry Abraxalito, you get the right amp, not put a band-aid on it

Another good reason is that you have a much higher power amp than you need -

Not into speakers EPDR low bass impedances, again, you get the right amp, not put a band-aid on it, it’s like bridging if you need more power, wrong. You get the right amp.

No hate for McIntosh amps here.
https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/from-the-vault-property-from-the-grateful-dead-and-frie...

Greatfull dead/Jerry Garcia’s Favorite McIntosh 2300 Amplifiers weren’t owned by them, and were owned by nobody they’re worth around 3K.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/363362695974

Cheers George

it’s like bridging if you need more power, wrong.

You just reminded me of a third good reason for using a trafo - bridging halves the effective impedance. A trafo brings it back to normal again.

Needless to say I don't share your moral view of amplifier utilization, I'm a pragmatist.

lets say we agree to disagree, on this one
Cheers George

" Greatfull dead/Jerry Garcia’s Favorite McIntosh 2300 Amplifiers weren’t owned by them, and were owned by nobody they’re worth around 3K.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/363362695974"

That would be the "Grateful Dead" and the link you posted was an amp for sale, not one that has sold. All amps in the auction sold, I do think at silly prices, however just pointing out. The value to one may not be the value to others.