I don't do Sodoku, i like word puzzles more. In fact, i buy the Oregonian ( Portland, OR ) mostly for the scramble word puzzle and secondarily, to be astonished and appalled at the daily serving of mayhem in the big city. But i'm sure these puzzles are better brain exercise than most of the usual ham radio stuff, including pointless ARRL certificates and a lot of crappily done conversions. I have seen some 'conversions' i thought were well done, excellent work, so you had a whole new viable creation. On the other hand, who hasn't seen a German radio modified so you could play march music or Hitler speeches thru it ? Even, like totally emptied, chassis removed ? Sub-genius at work ! But as you say, and i agree, everything on this plane is temporary, not fixed down, more space than solid. Why worry ?

There are still more WSNo.19 and BC-348 than demand, so i don't lose sleep over them. From what i have seen, at least out here in the Pacific NW corner, it's not worth taking them to any hamfest. In fact, it looks to me that in ham radio, "component level" knowledge is about done.