>When I'm not sure what I want, I buy from someone with more of a clue than I have - complex SCSI cable plants, the first call out of the box is www.scsipro.com - Granite Digital. They have multiple techs who've forgotten more than I know about SCSI. I take notes, ask questions, and buy what they recommend when it makes sense. If I know I need absolute top-flight parts, I'll buy from them, too, becuase I know I'll get the best possible product from them.

You mean they know more than you!??!! Wow! I'm shocked that you could even bring yourself to type that.

>Clueless local vendors are not in this league.

Some local vendors know more about hardware than you Ed. There are local hardware gurus around here that I call when I have a problem that I need help on. I can solve most things, but nobody knows everything.

BTW, rolling you own isn't a big deal. Anybody that can work a few basic tools and can read a manual and follow instructions will do fine. You know it and I know it. And anyone that's tried it know it.