Thanks for reminding me of the Rowland. I'll have to check it out. There seems to be some consensus that Raidho's like Class D amps with very high dampening factor.
Yes, tubes can be annoying. But in my Carver, each KT88 output tube idle around 10 to 15 watts depending on the bias setting, so they're only warm to the touch. My previous Shuguang KT88s were running strong even after 4 years, before I replace them with the GLs to get a different flavor of sound. So tube maintenance is not an issue for me with the Carvers. One thing I don't like about tubes is their high cost, especially if you have to buy 12 output tubes (in the Carver amp).
I think the sound of an output tube is more dependent on the amplifier circuitry and speaker it is used in, than the actual brand or type. IMO, this is why there are varying opinions on the sound of a particular brand or type of output tube. I've heard some describe the reissue GL KT88 as very warm and lush in the midrange and adequate in the bass. It doesn't sound like that in my system (slightly warm in the midrange with slamin bass in my system), but it may in your system.