Howard: 

If you read through NC4L Mal's web pages devoted to the 102, the blown fuse issue indicates a run away in the tubes. Once this starts, the grid screen becomes contaminated and weak. 
The 6146W has a plate dissipation of 25W and I have been pushing them a little harder, tuning up to the 102's maximum 185 key down. 
I should have kept it back a little to the 300MA current level instead of 350 and limit things to no more than 150W key down, using the 2 times the plate dissipation as a max. 
However that's what Mal recommends and standbys them due to the enhanced vibration handling capability of the W. This tube was meant for the mobiles back in the 50s/60s. 
There's another camp however that stand firm about using the 6146B. Its an older tube that has a higher plate dissipation of 35W. 
Now RF Parts carry the Taylor 6146B in a matched set of 3 and I'm thinking of giving those a try if nothing else, they will give me a higher headroom for tuning.  
I use a TW-1 for this and even though there's a couple on this list who don't like them, I don't think that there's that big a discrepancy to cause tube damage. In fact, my TW-1 corresponds with the meter in my 986. 
As for the receiver, the FT-102 can run circles around the IC-756 Pro III, TS-950 with a blocking dynamic range of 130DBM and a 3RD intercept point of 19DBM. Not quite as good as the IC-7600 and FTDX series but when it can beat the TS-950 and IC-756 Pro III, 20 years behind them, that's something. 
I have found that listening to my 102 the past 2 1/2 years, I've gotten a new appreciation for a good quality receiver and I really don't think anything is available in the 2K range. I've heard the IC-7700/800 on you tube and with the speaker that was used, it came pretty darn close to my 102. 
Its worth your while to google NC4L's 102 site and have a read. Then you'll know why I love this radio so much. Its probably like your Drake. 
I'm pretty sure there are times when your drake probably beats everything in the shack but its the convenience of simply pressing a button and hearing everything you need to hear with regards to settings and so on. 

73: 
Mike VO1AX