Well said.
Boat ownership/maintenance is a dynamic process. The total system is either improving or deteriorating, with short periods at equilibrium (maybe). These decisions depend wholly on what you are starting with on the boat. Then you consider where you are at with the financial bank and the time bank with short and long term goals that improve seaworthiness, life onboard and durability (bullet proof). Then there is the type of
passage that you are preparing for to consider and things go on or come off. I find the differences to be elusive, and what happens is typically more dependent on what I feel like doing, and I am OK with that as long as the boat is
seaworthy. Sure, I would like a bit more chain and a new longer rode, but these will come after the windless and it's breaker are removed and replaced. I was given the chain for free, the rode I have was on the boat, and the Danforth on the stern pulpit was on the boat in a locker. I would like to replace my Danforth with a
Fortress but it probably will not happen unless I stumble on a good deal.
I agree and doubt that anyone could put up a good argument that a CQRish anchor is just plain not
seaworthy. Also they do have a very traditional look on the pulpit of a more traditional vessel, which is quite aesthetically pleasing. They just look right up there. This may also be a valid consideration.