[ARC5] why solid state command gear?

[Tom Bridgers]

Why?  For several reasons:
@ it's exciting, and fun to learn new things.  
@ as long as I can remember it's in almost every ham's DNA to try and improve an item of ham gear an individual owns.  One has only to look at the back issues of QST, CQ, 73, Ham Radio, Radio-Electronics, and Electric Radio, to mention a few mags, to confirm the I am community's thirst for a rig to "play" a bit better. However one might define "better".
@ as a kid, I tried many times to build a transistor radio without success.  Now with the Internet, Google, and very knowledgeable members of this ARC 5 list, one has so much more help available either directly or through a sharing of reference material and circuits.  The likelihood of learning "how to do it successfully" is much higher.  
@ did I mention having fun? :-) did I mention I may be old, but I'm still curious.  As I'm guessing most, if not all, list members are.  I still want to experiment with modding ham gear, and frankly I think I always will.  
@ And finally if the price is reasonable, I definitely will buy a solid-state replacement for the 12K8 and the 
12SK7.  Maybe it's no more difficult than trying out the MP – 102's that a list member mentioned. I agree with whoever said leave out the filament resistor.  Each of us can address that issue ourselves when installing a SS replacement.
@ Beyond solid-state replacements is the new era of DDRs (Direct digital readouts), and other integrated circuits that offer promise in bringing better performance into our ham radio hobby. 
@ this may be a stretch but possibly the marriage of advanced electronics and ham radio might be a way for us to attract millennial's who are interested in technology to our hobby.  
@ a local local young ham encouraged me to delve into the AD9850 (.1 Hz to 40 MHz) regarding the new DDS technology.  See more at
Www.adafruit.com/products/2045

Just my 2 cents worth. Your mileage may vary.
73,
Tom KE4RHH