Depends on how much bragging you plan on doing about your amp. Some folks
wouldn't be caught dead with anything less than a pair of 8877's, just to keep
ahead of their peers. "I tell you what ... I can run full legal limit with
only 1/2 watt drive". Personally, I have run a pair of 3-500's for years
without any undo strain on the components. Look at the photo's of the "big gun"
DX multi-ops ... W3LPL, K0RF, and the like, many run some beat up, homebrew,
single band amp running a pair of 3-500z's, to 6/6/6 at 200 ft. So you see
where their money goes.

Plus, have you looked at the cost of tubes lately?

Check out the contesting.com (I beleive) archives of the [AMPS] email list.
That should provide hours of reading towards your project.

GOOD LUCK!

jw
K9RZZ