Finishing my upgrade to the Millennium ChessGenius Exclusive!

So if you caught my last two posts about chess eboards, I recently purchased the Millennium ChessGenius Exclusive ($599).  I found it lacking in just a few areas, so I decided to do a few "upgrades" to it.

To recap, I added my own notation using vinyl lettering:

Unimpressed with the stock computer it comes with, I then purchased the Chesslink module ($99) that allowed me to connect my eBoard to other chess engines.  I personally chose the HIARCS software ($49, $99; depending on the package you purchase).

You also may recall that I found the provided wooded chess pieces a little... wanting?  I stated that I felt like the pieces are what would come with a $30 wooden chess set from your local pharmacy; not what I would expect to come with a $599 chess eBoard.

So after doing some research and watching some YouTube videos, I found that replacing the pieces was pretty simple.  It was just a matter of removing the felt on the old piece using a hobby knife, and then transplanting the felt to the new piece:

Once that was done, the eBoard was able to detect the piece without any problems.

I looked at some different chess set options and opted for The Grandmaster Chess Set in Ebonized Boxwood by The House of Staunton ($109) with a 3.25" King.

Here is a side by side comparison of the old pieces (shorter) and the new pieces (taller):

The height and (especially) the weight of the new set is fantastic and was well worth the money.

The final board in all its glory!

So I now beg the question: Does choosing a new, more luxurious chess set and painstakingly transferring all of the sensors over make me a chess snob?  My wife votes yes.   

What do you think?