Well, there are those amps like the Reeves bass heads which I'd day are an improvement on the Hiwatts. At least in terms if usability. No?
I was using an Orange AD 200 Mk 3. The Orange snobs refuse to accept those. But it sounded good enough that when I saw a hand wired version on EBay I bot it. It's a thing of beauty inside, but most important, it kicks butt live.
I used to agree with you guys about running old amps and I'd buy an old SVT if I ever went that route. But it is nice nice not having to worry about knocking an old solder joint loose when you load in or out.