The Omega leather straps are very nice. When I bought this NATO, I really had to convince myself to spend the money (I paid $192 with tax and shipping, MSRP is $280, which sounds crazy for a NATO strap, right?). I couldn't be more pleased. It's at least 10 times better than the NATO straps I own that cost 1/10th as much.
It really depends on the implementation, these days, I'd say. johnwmclean mentions the NAD M51, which has the same volume control as the NAD M2, and the NAD M2 is brilliant sounding.
Did you use a curry base, or did you make it from scratch? This is very similar to things I make, during the week. If you had told my 26 year-old self that 36 year old Jacob would use curry base, he's have scowled. 26 year-old Jacob was pretty dumb.
There is something very funny about much of it. I can't quite put my finger on it, either, but I flipped sides when I heard that boxed set. I think that, maybe, he is just one of those players that you had to have heard live, in person, to have really appreciated.