Am I totally nuts or just a bit off?

Stereo allows you to fully utilize the fact that you have two ears on opposite sides of your head. They take in slightly different information. In that difference lies the beauty of stereo, when properly mixed.

Walk around for a day with an eyepatch on and see how you like that.

Many people prefer mono because the sound is more natural without the phase problems you get with stereo.

You're probably not completely nuts, but then you are into vinyl so that's a big step toward the brink. :)

What you're listening to probably was not recorded using the standard RIAA equalization, but most likely a different EQ. That makes for a different tonal balance, sometimes pretty laid back, sometimes it's a knife in the ears.

I think the mono original Mercury 1812 used a different EQ, before the RIAA standard EQ was developed. Definitely a different tonal balance.

Tosta, if so properly mixed must be rare indeed.

I did walk around with a eyepatch for several years till the VA finally gave me a glass eye, was no big deal.

Rrog, your answer makes a lot of sense to me, thanks.