several routes to take to digital heaven?

I can't speak to the modifications your referring to,
but my own admittedly biased opinion is that you'll
be unlikely to recoup the investment you make in an
expensive modification. Whenever I purchase high-end
equipment, I always look at the resaleability of the
item. That is why my system is almost exclusively Mark
Levinson, which has a ready resale market and holds its
value well. Additionally, I like the sound and the
construction. I formerly owned an EAD T-1000 transport and
a Wadia 2000 DAC. The EAD was decent for a modestly
priced transport but not in the same league as the Levinson
#37 I have now. The Wadia was excellent, but still not as
good as my Levinson #360. Particularly in digital, quality
of sound is (unfortunately) usually linked to cost.

Viridian, it's not too hard to discern what camp you come from, especially after looking at the active threads you have participated in, but I did at one time make an honest attempt to go 'pure' and had a very good analog front end, but determined that tracking (another one of those intended puns)down the holy grail took way too much valuable time. I will not proselytise you on the benefits of digital, but recommend you read the comments of Bob Stuart of Meridian fame that have appeared recently in several mags as to his reply to you vinylatics.