To get back on topic here
I find that people listen for different things in music. Some want the dynamics and speed of a good solid state design, which gives them a more "live" sound, while others feel that realism comes from the "palpable" imaging that tubes can give. I think they are both right, tubes and solid state both have strengths that are difficult to replicate in the other.
As for weaknesses, tubes generally are lacking in micro/macro dynamics and transient speed, while solid state tends to lack smoothness of tubes, and rarely matches that "palpable" imaging.
But like anything, there are good designs, and bad designs, for both tube and solid state equipment. The good designs keep the traditional strenghts and shore up the weaknesses to a very large degree. So, a solid state amp can have both slam and smoothness, and a good tube amp can have good dynamics to go with the palpable imaging.
Of course a bad design can screw everything up, such as when solid state designers try to make solid state sound "like tubes". You end up with a vieled and dark sounding solid state amp.
Then there are hybrid designes. To me hybrids sound more like solid state designs than tubed (based on the AVA and counterpoint amps I've heard), but they do offer the benefit of tube swapping to change the "flavor" of the sound somewhat, to suite personal preference.
