Jim thanks for sharing your journey! The details you provide certainly cause me to imagine just how amazing the synergy of your system is with everything you have assembled. Sounds like you have found the ultimate combination of components that truly take your listening experience to a level of enjoyment beyond anything you have auditioned in your room to date.
It must be killing you to take that pre-amp out of the loop after such sheer bliss
To experience this level of sound is something many will never experience, but at least you now know where you want to be without any doubt.