One wonders. They just "upgraded" the K3 to K3S a couple of years ago, so would a new rig, aka K4, be far behind?

It looks like the days of the K1 have been numbered for a while. The last couple of years, you couldn't buy a "4 band" version, because the "4 band" board was no longer available; same problem, parts supply had dried up. And for all practical purposes, the KX2 and KX3 replaced the K1, but so long as they could get parts & the sales held up, they kept making them.

The K3/K3S is not a bad rig. (Nor is the K2/100 with all the bands and accessories). I wouldn't turn one down if someone wanted to give me one. The ergonomics of the rig, namely sized and placement of knobs, is not quite to my tastes, but isn't bad.

And I've seen the new ICOM rigs. I've used a TS-990. I'm with your buddy; given the choice of one of those or a K3S, I'd pick the K3S without hesitation and without looking back.

I just wish that we'd start getting rigs out of Tennessee again, and soon.