I wrote a long response then somehow it got deleted prior to posting...so here's my opinion in a nutshell...
For guitar and bass amplifiers, tubes eat transistors for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
All other applications, transistors rule.
As a guitarist I've tried for years to find a transistor setup that outperformed tubes for pure tone. I can't find it...Old Fender and Marshall tube amps just sound better at every turn.
The opposite is true in my high fidelity system. Transistors sound better and last longer, are more efficient, and cost less.
It seems like tubes sound better where live music is concerned, and transistors sound better in reproducing that live music at home. I dunno, as always YMMV.
I almost completely agree. My only disagreement is that, as a bass player myself, I don't think tubes matter that much. But they are huge in guitars. And Line 6 and other brands have some nice tube sound emulators but they still don't quite have the sound.
Regarding the ease of replacement regarding tubes vs Transistors, there is a reason for that. Replacing tubes is like replacing tires. You're going to have to some day. Meanwhile, transistors are assumed to not need it. It's why LED lights in many applications are very difficult to get to. There's no reason to replace them, usually.
And now on to my favorite argument regarding tubes vs solid stat regarding live vs recorded music:
The parts of an instrument used to create music actually all have a purpose in coloring the sound reproduced. It's why buzzing your lips sounds different from the sound coming out of the horn of a trumpet. The tubes in an electric guitar color the sound, and so does the wood in a violin, as both offer a nice "warm color" to the sound. And they are SUPPOSED TO.
However, a home hi-fi does not create music. It reproduces it. This means you want it to add as little color to the sound as possible - even warmth.
Modern SS does this the best for the least dollars.
Now, that being said, it is truly enjoyable to look at and know the beautiful tube amp prominently displayed on the shelf next to the TT is what is creating that wonderful sound. The act of listening in one's living or listening room is a very subjective experience. The beauty of listening to any source through your system is not just the sound. Seeing the record (or reel) slowly turning, looking at the soft glow from some of the tubes on that gleaming chrome base set in hand rubbed rosewood (or whatever material) is very much a part of the listening experience.
So, if you're purchasing the PA for a football stadium or a movie theater, it is absolutely going to be solid state. When it comes to your home stereo, the raw quality of the sound truly is not the entire equation, nor should it be.