For those who actually earned a living in the sales, service and repair of these beasties, there was not the 'nostalgia factor' so evident today. We nursed them through warranty, cussed 'em often, and if a color set lasted 5 years it was considered a good service life. If there was any nostalgia, it was for radios of the '20s and '30s. The fact that everything was made in America was simply a given and taken for granted.
Today on these forums, I can vicariously 'work on' the old stuff again and actually always enjoy it.
The greatest satisfaction comes of (occasionally) walking someone through the self-same, obscure troubleshooting problem I had encountered a half-century or more ago.
Although not recognized at the time, it is the
Americanness of the old sets that is their most precious asset.
Bill(oc)