Sounds to me is he is trying to ask, in a nice way, why is the 190XPROB suddenly not good enough? He might not understand the one of the inherent features in a CF tripod can be vibration dampening vs metal like your current tripod. Yet, I shoot macro a lot and never run into vibration being an issue and I use the newer version of your current tripod, the 055XPROB which I bought as a floor demo from B&H saving $60+.
I would be like the husband unit and wonder why the need for the "better" tripod. Gitzo is nice but I, to be honest, would have to ask myself is it going to make enough of an impact, based on how I use it, to justify the cost? Yup, the Gitzo will be more durable, maybe, but if your tripod does not see the field on the level of use of daily/weekly trudging over dusty trails, bumpy roads and angry or stoned baggage handlers, it's possible that even the durability difference will be well beyond the point of diminishing returns.
As for the lost cap, just dab some black paint on the nut and be done with it if you don't like the look...remember it is not how good your gear looks, it how good the shots you take with that gear look. And your 190XPROB is a very good tripod that can take a beating and deliver for a lifetime.
Anyway, I just read a sense that you simply want the Gitzo because "it's better". But, then again if ya gots the cash and don't need some other bit of gear, what the heck, pull the trigger.
