sdl4,
I bought my first USB when I got the Innuos. It's my first--and last one. So, I will take your advice. What USB rabbit hole? I don't any rabbit hole. Lol.
Despite having fished a single mode run "just in case", I am in no hurry to try it. Like, you, I feel my SQ with ethernet is excellent...........
However, I'd like to see if products such as the EtherRegen, EE 8switch or Innuos' Phoenix improve SQ as much as many have reported. The Innuos is expensive and I've not even had a dealer demo yet, so I'd be loath to buy it without a satisfaction guarantee of sorts. Fortunately, for me, I have an audiophile friend whose ears I trust. He tries tons of gear and ancillaries first-hand and shares his findings with me. He recommends a network filter called ENO silver--emphatically. Network Acoustics, the maker, offers a 30 day MBG, so I figure, why not. I'll be happy to report my findings once I get one. I'm considering a switch also, but go into that right now. Your experience with the netgear switch is a useful data point for me, so thanks. Someone just advised me to get a better SMPS for switches. He likes IFI PSU. I know zip, just passing along what this guy said he uses himself with a very inexpensive D-link switch.
My views on the USB connection mirror yours.
Antigrunge2 also directed my attention to the ENO filter earlier in this thread. So thanks to him.