So do you think it's the story, or the telling of the story?
Both. You can't have one without the other in order for it to be a great story. You seem to have both.
Trading a $300,000 piece of equipment for a $3 piece of ass? Hey, if the piece of ass is good, you can't put a price tag on it. However, if it was only worth $3, well then, my friend, you got screwed twice <G>