Someone school me on this stuff

For the sake of argument, no budget???

he must work on wall street.

I suggest you check the archives.

Unlike most integrated amps, separates give you the option of trying different preamps or power amp combinations to reach the desired sound. I have had a few integrated amps and was not completely satified with them. However integrated amps are space savers and it is one less pair of interconnects to worry about. I'm sure if you throw enough money at it, you could come up with an integrated amp that challenges separates.

It depends how loud you listen to music. If not very loud then integrated might be simplier choice - like Ultrasound Otello ($600,000) but if you like it loud then go with Goldmund 3kW monoblocks ($375,000). Goldmund is cheaper but needs preamp (another $375,000 or so).

Do you need speakers? There is a lot of nice speakers within $500,000 - we can find something. Let me know

For the sake of argument, no budget???

he must work on wall street.

....or Congress.