The automotive metaphor seems very appropriate in this discussion. Whether you want it as a Sunday driver or use it every day has to be taken into the equation. Original equipment is going to fail when stressed. Can you depend on it if you simply need transportation? The reasonable person would assume that even in the best case scenario, any manufactured device will eventually require extensive repair. I've watched enough Barrett-Jackson car auctions to know what an off body restoration costs. If that 911 is that special a car. If you're willing, and able to purchase, restore, and maintain it, then good for you. I am shamefully jealous. If I had that kind of coin to put toward a single microphone, I'd wan't to check out a couple of new ones just for comparison. In fact, for 6-8 thousand bucks, or 32,097-42,796 K, I'd probably be throwing a tantrum in the lobby of Mercenary Audio until they let me play with everything they had in the store.
.....Dean Giamette