Jody thanks for the post and clearing up a few important points. You are spot on.
The best music production equipment available is a good pair of ears. All the expensive gizmos, equipment and tech knowledge that the industry demands nowadays cannot do anything without "good ears". That said great ears, great equipment and great tech knowledge and ability is an unbeatable combination....regardless of what brands and personal preferences and production systems the ears use.
I have heard great recordings using only humble equipment and some real horrors using top end pro equipment that cost obscene amounts of cash.