I thought we were talking about product comparison, not just pre-amps.
In any event, I would like to address Chris's earlier comments. First of all, I don't know your history, but I do know I have read this thread in it;s entirety and if you have found rudeness and personal attacks, I think that may be some kind of "history"
I am not questioning your knowledgeability, and this is not a personal attack, although it may be perceived that way. I tend to be right some of the time, dead wrong some of the time, but brutally forthright all of the time, and I am used to people taking offense where none was intended.
So as far as modded stuff goes, it seems like we were talking about product comparisons but you seem to go to mods as a recurring theme. While some of us here are openly admitting we are making subjective decisions, I have to start questioning some of your comments as being maybe not quite as objective as you seem to present them.
Having said that, I personally will no longer touch any modded gear. When someone asks me how I feel I give them my subjective but honest opinion. If you are on a budget, modded gear can in my opinion genuinely give you a real upgrade with a lot of bang for your buck and put the quality of recording you can obtain on a totally different level than the same "prosumer" stock unit could provide. There are problems however - you immediately not only void the warranty but if you have problems you have limited to resolutions, and practically never have an immediate option. I know from personal experience. Take modded gear and have it die on you even in a city like NY where you can find anything that exists, and you are still outta luck because anyone that would do quality work willl also not be willing to even touch a piece of non-functional modified gear.
That very unpleasant experience put an end to my willingness to run mod gear - the professional stuff is worth every penny.
I maybe wrong, but I had the distinct impression you were also in the business of modifying or at least building non standard gear yourself? I have even steered a few people your way saying "Sorry, I don't do stealth so I can't advise but a lotta people that run stealth gear seem to have good results form this guy Church who I think provides a lotta stuff targeted at the stealth market - join taperssection and you'll find him.
And as far as Busman goes, never had any dealings with him either, but people seem to have a high view of his mods and I've heard some good results. And I understand the mod market exists and benefits many tapers on a budget, and I have had experience with non-stealth modded prosumer gear and I have steered people to him a number of times with the similar qualifier that I have not used his gear but many like it and unlike that other guy who's reputation is apparently beyond reproach and can rest on his laurels (i.e. to put it bluntly if you get a good mod, good for you, if you get one that has defects the other guy is not above totally fucking you over as an individual because he knows you have no real voice as far as his untarnishable rep), my impression is that Busman is OTOH actively trying to grow both his reputation and his business, so I would trust him to give better service.
So what is with the whole mod issue and the perception of personal attacks?
Are we still all talking about differing views on product comparisons, of which modded and unmodded equipment would both be considerations, or have we moved to the realm of product business or some other personal business now?