In the late late 70's I was a bit cash limited, even being on the Pioneer Employee Discount plan. I had access and long time auditioned many units (out on the sales floor) and speaker combinations. AND I was one stingy essobee, with only one 11 foot square room to fill - and only at times.. I have made no secret of the fact that I owned a SX-636, a pair of Project 100a speakers and a Rotel Turntable, ALL demonstrator units that had been retired. Along with those was a brand spanking new CT-F9191 cassette deck that had me banging my head in frustration because just a week or so after I ordered that 9191, Pioneer announced the CT-F1000 at a price that would only cost me an additional $75 or so from what I had paid for the 9191. Tried MIGHTILY to intercept and change that order, to no avail.
All units are still in my possession, and the personally owned models waiting in line for the fixer's touch might be mind boggling.
SX-1980, specs galore, SX-D7000, SX-3900, (and 3800, 3700 and 3600) SX-1280, SX-780, SX-680, SX-1250, SX-1050, SX-850, SA-9500, SA-9100, A-80, oodles of CT-F9191's, CT-F1000, SX-1010, SX-990, SX-626, SX-525 just off the top of my head. Some are really rough, none are perfect - but a few have cosmetics that will knock socks off.