Hi @tooblue
Listen, I just want to say that was a little cold of me. You should buy and enjoy what you like, according to your own personal values and aesthetic.
I gave up on arbitrary perfection. I rely on tests, numbers and science a lot, but in the end, this is about my own somatic pleasure.
When it comes to tone controls, I've heard issues with some, and not with others. I had to step back and think about whether the alleged imperfection of the tone control itself was worth denying myself better sound.
I'm lucky to have a unit whose tone controls I cannot tell. Maybe my ears have gotten worse? I've heard other units and did not like the tone controls. Now, at night, listening with the loudness switch on is heaven. It means I don't have to have live sound to have great music.
Should you? Up to you, but the rigid self discipline of avoiding them is something far in my past. I even use a digital EQ to do some careful room correction.
Best,
E