There's a lot to be said for choosing the right strings, but it's a very personal thing.

Some people want their strings to last (hello Jon! rusty banjo strings at Llanstock!), whereas others prefer a good, biting sound that you tend only to get when the strings are new.

I fall somewhere in between - it tends not to matter too much when I'm gigging, because new strings tend to be wasted on an average audience. That's not said in a nasty way - good strings only really make a difference in an intimate setting, such as a recording studio. You do yourself no favours recording with strings that have passed their best.

I once tried recording a tune using old strings, then again having restrung. Not only was the quality better, but the recording level was improved.

I suppose my point is - The guitar is secondary to the performer, but strings are another story!