[Amps] Why are we building amps rather then transmitters? (Tubes vs. Solid State)

[W2XJ]

When I/Q is via Ethernet, I do not see a connector issue. Any I/Q device 
I purchase supports Ethernet or I don't buy it.  I/Q over Ethernet opens 
the door to things that were previously very difficult in this hobby.

I for one use a computer to generate I/Q streams. I am opposed to a 
complete hardware solution. The amateur community collectively does a 
better job developing front ends than does any one manufacturer.  Any 
SDR based system is as current as the latest software download.

On 5/4/12 2:19 PM, Dan Mills wrote:
> On Fri, 2012-05-04 at 13:53 -0400, W2XJ wrote:
>
>> What is being proposed is more like a legal limit flex radio. SDR goes a
>> long way in helping to forestall obsolesce.
> Probably fairer to say that SDR POTENTIALLY goes a long way in helping
> to forstall obsolescence.
> Without accepted standards for how to do this thing you would quickly
> end up with lots of manufacturer specific boxes, with a really bad case
> of connector conspiracy when it comes to plugging things together.
>
> It is not so much a legal limit flex, as it is a rethink about where the
> exciter/amplifier split should most usefully be placed.
>   .