JM wrote:

I sure like this setup, because I'm so used to it, but lately my 38 has been
acting a bit goofy

How so?

My specific question is this: While my current setup is certainly nothing
to put on the cover of Mix, I have gotten very good sounds from it, and the
comfort factor is very high. If I put it all aside in favor of a basic
(i.e., cheap) pc-based recording solution, would I be losing or gaining?

Both. You could be gaining some technical quality (or maybe not,
depends on how cheap you go) but you'd be losing the comfort factor
(which goes with the space) and you'd spend a lot of non-productive
time figuring out how to do what's completely obvious with your
hardware-based and analog-connected system.

My advice would be to get your recorder un-goofy and start breaking in
to digital slowly. Set up a good (that is not cheap sound card)
computer for mixdown, editing, and miraculous processing that you can't
do with your hardware. Don't let anyone convince you that transferring
between analog and digital is going to ruin your life.

Once you figure out how a computer in the studio can help you and
hinder you, you'll be better equipped to make a decision as to whether
to expand your computer system to multitrack recording, and you can
still use your mixer. Or you might decide to go all the way and mix in
the computer, or you might just shove it out the window and keep your
analog setup. It should really be a personal choice.

There are all sorts of good reasons why you should just get a computer
and work like almost everyone else, but there's one good reason why you
shouldn't - you just might not have enough fun doing it that way.