I think Radio Shack gets the benefit of a lot of at least somewhat rose-tinted memories. Yes, they were a source for various electronics components at a time when there weren't a lot of sources for such things. And you had a decent shot at finding a knowledgable employee. However, for as long as I remember Radio Shack--which takes us back to the mid-1970s--their shelves were also filled with all manner of mostly overpriced and poor quality audio gear and the like. So they've been something of a mixed bag for a very long time.