Boots the chemist do their own filtered buds for a tenner. I bumped into them when I was looking for some soft ones in Colchester Boots after forgetting to take some along to a Killing Joke gig. Speaking as someone who wears foam ones all night and most of the day at work I found them very good.
I see your points about stopping playing. The bands at the Rebellion festival would not agree though and most of them are still very good to good enough live. There are some that should stop though agreed.
Jah Wobble at MK11 venue. Best form I have seen him in and glad it was not too loud as I lost my proper ear plugs and had to wear foam ones. Shock horror..... He did not use a stage amp. Not one I could see anyhow. The sound was fantastic. Came on at half eight and played till eleven.
I'm not paying the prices anymore.I might even start gigging again and just watch myself. Going to do my own repairs to everything I own too. No more plumbers, car mechanics, or greedy promoters prices. The Devout will be my next gig. Good value. Fair play to them.
My experiences I bought a new cab a few years ago rated at 250 Watts and opened it up to find a 150w at 8ohm speaker in it. I phoned the company to ask why such a small speaker and the man on the phone told me that if I blew the speaker he would send me a new one for free. Regards to port sizes I have 2x 15" cabs. I have a Ashdown driver, a Panasonic driver and a Celestion. All work in either cab by my ears. I don't think 15s are very fussy.