Mark,
I agree with everything you you said on your posting ----except------ If
a person installed high end speakers, capable of big wattage, and
powered them with a wimpy radio, the sound would be distorted like crazy
!
Case in point, all my stock Vanagon speaker's were cooked, so I
purchased, at ebay two, 4", Blaupunkt, overdrives, for the doors, and
two, 6x9, Blaupunkt, overdrives for the rear.
Guess what? The stock Heidelberg,radio only puts out 8 watts, and the
sound was garbage.
I installed, 200 watt power amp and the sound is clear as a bell.
Yes, I can cause the speaker's to distort, by cranking the volume to the
max, but who in the heck run's around with the radio cranked wide open?
( excluding kids driving," on the ground honda civics with tiny gold
plated wheels", and tiny donut tires.
Also besides E-bay for good prices, one should try, Best Buy,  Electric
Ave., or Circuit City, for deals on automotive stereo stuff.
Every time I have looked at Crutchfeild these places have beat their
prices hands down.
                                                                 Chow,
Chow, For Now,

Terry