So I guess my wife and kids must be from the Star Wars Universe when they consistently picked my Parasound amp over my adcom in a blind AB test. I think I'll change my sig to Darth Vader.

Yes, the tube sound is due to distortion, but I would not call it any more unnatural than the Solid State sound. The bottom line is that there is nothing in the world today that can reproduce the sound of live music. Its all a matter of preference. I prefer Van Alstine Hybrid Tube/SS gear over the pure tube sound. I've heard a lot of tube gear with too much bloom and a lot of high end SS gear that sounds too clinical. What I do find is that alot of tube or hybrid gear sounds more liquid for lack of a better term.

As for Class-D amps, I do believe they are the future. Light weight, little heat and less parts. They should be cheaper too, but the manufacturers will continue to rape the consumer of high end equipment because they can.