I am thinking that most v4 and v5 rigs do not need them. It may depend which spur mod you do for an added 45 MHz filter. I am getting around 4 watts on 28 MHz cw with stock transistors and an added LC filter only in transmit path. I don't imagine its a huge difference on receive. I am also thinking that other vhf npn devices could be found in junk.
Curt
