Why did you lean one way or the other

Good stuff.

My personal journey: Been at this for over 50 years and first dabbled with a tube DAC and ARC tube pre-amp about 15 years ago, posting regular here ever since (so my journey is very well documented :^) ).   Was hesitant about tube power amps for the usual reasons, so I decided to go for broke with Class D at the time, Bel Canto ref1000m monoblocs.   That combo had a nice 10 year or so run. More recently, I decided to take the next step, first with a newer Ncore based Class D amp then late last year with a brand new GaN based design power amp and a Schitt Freya SS pre-amp to replace the ARC sp16 tube pre-amp.   That’s where I am currently....best place ever!   Still have the Ncore in a second system...also still very nice!   

As one member nicely summed-up "For me, the tube preamp defines the emotional color of the sound and a great SS amp delivers that uncolored to my speakers".

I went from a Cambridge SS to a McIntosh MA12000 integrated amplifier and the tubes up front really took music to another level.  It was more emotionally engaging. That almost changed when I sold the McIntosh and bought Accuphase separates. At first I was disappointed and lost the "magic" of the tubes. I hated myself for what I did.  But then as my system broke-in the music came to life and I find that emotional connection I had with my McIntosh.  Things improved even more when I added an Accuphase standalone DAC replacing the DAC card that slides into the preamplifier.  Yes there are times I miss the tubes but my Accuphase class A amplifier with Accuphase's preamplifier and DAC deliver a richer and smoother presentation which I'm really enjoying. So matching components is fundamental to SQ.

I see you have LaScala speakers.  I love my LaScala AL5. The tubes on the McIntosh helped tame the LaScala's exuberance. Likewise, my Accuphase A-48S Class-A amplifier smoothes this out and I'm getting a more refined sound.  

My mother had a tube amp when I was a kid. I loved my Panasonic Tau tube TV but there were no parts when it broke. My wife grew up with tube amps too. She has banned them for our present system. We have Ice Module amps. 

For me it's always been about experimentation and finding synergistic pairings in my gear. I never really set out to go tube or SS in particular. I just try everything that looks interesting and see what works for my tastes. Sometimes that is tube based, sometimes solid state, sometimes hybrid. 

Right now I've got a Lampizator tube DAC and a Unison Research hybrid integrated. I love the sound they make together. I don't think it's necessarily just because of the presence of tubes or not, just the designs of these particular devices that hit the spot for me. 

One aspect of  tubes that helped lure me in is that late night or early morning glow...