[turretslug]

I think that it's the pluggability of similar pin-out valves that leads to the interminable arguments over makes, print colours, date-codes etc. because it's so quick and easy to do.

Anything that involved changing valve socket pinning would uncork another can of worms- which brand of silver-loaded solder has best sonic performance, why joints have to be made at an exact temperature with a particular type of iron and bit and allowed to cool at a precise rate..... The possible fussiness is endless.