It's what everyone wants, ultimately

Yes, there is a certain satisfaction to be gained from building your own amps and speakers.

1. It's fun
2. It's educational and keeps the old brain cells going.
3. It is possible to get a high-end sound whilst saving up to 80% on the cost of dealer - supplied gear.
4. It encourages the "craftsperson" inside everyone to show itself.

Also if in spite of everything above, a hi-hi nut either does not have the skills or does not have the time to acquire the skills necessary to design and build amps and speakers, there are a number of people who do absolutely have those skills, for example Colin Wonfor, Stan Beresford, Nick Gorham, Richard Dunn, Jez at Arkless, Anthony at Tube Distinctions, Colin Topps and Scott Lindgren on the speaker front and Dominic at NWA for vinyl matters, to name just a few.
I'm confident that any of these fellows, could build an Audio enthusiast a system that would produce true high end sound and you'd be getting true artisan hi-fi with tremendous VFM.

Of course I'm well aware that artisan hi-fi is a tiny part of a tiny niche of a relatively small branch of consumer electronics, but it deserves to be heard and it deserves to grow and prosper.

Which way round is the hybrid?
valves at the front, transistors on the output or the other way round?