Indeed. But little neons are getting scarce (they aren't dear -- they're just much, much less common than they used to be). And working fluorescents (with mag

Indeed. But little neons are getting scarce (they aren't dear -- they're just much, much less common than they used to be). And working fluorescents (with magnetic ballasts that actually run at line frequency) are pretty much that way are too. LEDs and resistors, though? Bright, cheaper than chips, and ready for all kinds of modern digital shenanigans.