While they should have accepted non-stock upgrades (and it is possible you just got a cranky tech), the reason why I keep that old stuff around is that I don't

While they should have accepted non-stock upgrades (and it is possible you just got a cranky tech), the reason why I keep that old stuff around is that I don't trust them. I read stories on the Apple Support boards related to repairs on the 2011 MBPs and some people were getting laptops back from Apple with RAM upgrades missing, etc. And because of the Geek Squad horror stories (yes, I know Apple is not the Geek Squad - but better safe than sorry), I'd rather just give them a working HD with no data on it. -- edit Having said all of this, you can't swap out parts with the newer macs as easily since they're not as user-serviceable as the 2012 unibodies and earlier.