But I can still look at a screenshot of Workbench 1.3 running on an Amiga 500 displaying "8831544 free memory" and it feels like an absolute ocean of RAM for that machine and that time and, most importantly, for the software that was available in that era.

Back in the early 90s I used to, with 1MB of RAM, code, play games, make music, do word processing, create graphics with both DPaint III (or was it IV?), and create vector drawings with a CAD package, create spreadsheets, create fractal landscapes with Vista, not to mention a ton of other stuff as well.

It is crazy to think of how much you could do with so little back in the day. But even this was a massive step change compared to the 8-bit machines I'd been using up to that point. These I'd mostly used for programming and games (although I did do a bit of word processing on BBC machines, and a teeny tiny amount of spreadsheet stuff). I did have a light gun for my ZX Spectrum but, boy, was it tedious graphics with (although I did do it), as compared to DPaint.

WinUAE (Windows) or FS-UAE (Mac/Linux) — great defaults, easy setup

Install Workbench 1.3 or 3.1 plus: Directory Opus, Diskmaster, WHDLoad

Use curated packs like Workbench 3.X ClassicWB so you don’t have to configure everything manually

For games, WHDLoad bundles are a massive quality-of-life improvement over floppy juggling

You’ll get 90% of the “Amiga feel” without hunting vintage hardware.

It's amazing that a platform that's been dead since the early 90's is still getting so much love.

I haven't had luck finding anybody in the US with experience recapping these models who will do the work. The one person I found was unwilling to do the work w/o my verifying if they work now. I think it's a mistake to apply power to them in their current state since that could cause damage.

If anybody has recommendations I'd appreciate it. I'm not looking to cheap-out on this (particularly with the CD32, since I'm the original owner and have all the original packing material, etc). I just want them done right so they can be preserved and used again.

Email is in my profile.

Although this system will be somewhat hobbled by OS 1.3, I doubt OP will be bothered by that much. Have fun!

I have a A2000, and use Amiberry, but I'm looking forward to using this thing.

https://retrogames.biz/products/thea1200/