I've pulled together a collection of recent thoughts I've had about the recording process. You can agree or not agree. The important thing is to use your ears, mind, and creativity to make great recordings.
Recording equipment matters, but it doesn't really matter.
It may take you years to learn, or outgrow, some of your gear.
At a certain level of recording gear, every $500 step buys you tiny, incremental benefits.
Vintage gear is a mirage; not something you really need, but maybe something to conceptually strive for.
Some random chain of vintage equipment isn't what really made those records worth listening to 40 years later.
Considering every possibility in front of you is paralyzing.