Yes, Lon, I sure will be counting on you guys to assist me further through the fine-tunning/break-in phase, thanks.
Regarding the Mini's voltage regulation feature, I want to go along with Steve on that one. He was pretty emphatic about it, for some reason. I also don't enjoy good/stable power supply through the mains, locally.
My only personal reference in tube amplification has been my ex VTL 225 Deluxe monoblocks (typical push-pull), using EL34 tubes. Mid and highs were gorgeous. Bass, although strong, was not tight enough, to my taste.
I don't have references for a SET nor a SEP, other than what's in the literature, and that's why I was originally inclined for the integrated. So eventually I chose the Mini based on specs and user's descriptions, but most of all by Steve's suggestion. Iwonder if his advice would have been the same today?
In any event, as you say, I can't go wrong with either, and the Mini's features and specs are very complete.
According to my calculations, my Mini Torii order's lead time is exactly 8 weeks today, out of the original 12!