Mike,
I think you have it handled.  Conservative power will get you as much 
pleasure as squeezing every watt out of the amp.  Everything will 
last lots longer and no one will ever notice the difference.  When I 
was a kid in the hobby you could buy military surplus 811As for a 
buck a piece, still in the boxes.  Yes, fifty some years ago but had 
I but known, I could be a rich old guy!!
Pat, K9JAUAt 06:58 PM 1/21/2014, you wrote:
>Hi All:
>
>Now that I'm buying this amp.
>Is there anything I should be a where of running with these 4
>811A<x-apple-data-detectors://0>
>  tubes?
>This amp gets a little of a bad rap because the tubes can't exactly handle
>100% duty at 500W, which I suspect that's where the bad rap comes from.
>Some of the 811H users most likely beat the living daylights out of it and
>when it does come apart, the bad rap comes out.
>I know this isn't a 2 3-500Z <x-apple-data-detectors://1> or 4 572B high
>powered power supply equipped power house, so I won't treat it like one.
>My operating consists of mostly SSB, maybe an hour or 2 per night when get
>a chance and a little, still practicing CW, maybe a contact or 2 or 30MIN.
>I'm not looking to squeeze every watt possible out of the 811H, 4 to 600W
>will be just fine for me on SSB and maybe 400W on CW.
>So should I have anything to worry about? The 811s are cheap but I don't
>want to have to order a set every 3 or for months, costing me on average of
>40 a month for tubes. LOL
>I might try and get a matched set of 4 572BS but even these are getting
>rare, for good ones.
>
>73:
>
>Mike