Let i start whit the explanation that it is a bit more difficult to wright the right words in English when it is not your native languish ( auto correction helps you to spell a kind of right, but grammatically ?
) So it is difficult to find the exact words to express the feeling on a subject as this.
Tone is very personally, and it change form day till day. The same Amp setting whit the same guitar sounds in my ears complete different the other day. Just as the sound that you get out of your headphone. The same settings did not work on the Amp/cab ore combo.
Chasing the Ultimate tone did my collected more than 20 guitars and build a lot others. I owned guitars that have there own voice that i am able to find. Every tone and volume pot had his own sweet spot on what ever Amp. Changing Pickups is not the way for me to find "the tone"
In my opinion is that a change in the character of the instrument self. I follow the building of your strat and i think the "personality" of the strat whit the Wilkinsons was marvelous. Swap the pickups made it not "better" but just different. A set of Texas specials in a crappy squir didn't it made a winner. But it could made it your # 1 when you get every thing out of it end more.
So i think finding "that tone" is more the environment of electronica wizards and there expertise). Create a sound is more the way a musician do it on the second it came out of his fingers and his skills.
I get the picture when you tell us that the response of the Hagstrom is so much more your cup of tea whit other picks. But i have the same experience after a fret job ore an intonation. The vibes of working on an instrument you like to play and having on your lap is not describable to them who did not play. Just as the bond you have whit some of them.
In the last 43 years i came to the conclusion that Neil Young came close to the point,so this is my kind of free translation "If you can get the tone you love, Love the tone you get"
If it made you happy to swap Pick ups? please do, but i think that you get a new friend but trading in the old one you have for years! ( oke! whit all his habits you all ready was use to
I was thinking of building a guitar that has an kind of scratch plate that allow me to test en do experiments whit Pups and pots whit out change the guitar.
Just loosen the strings unplug the jack cable, screw in the pups ore swap the pots, capacitors etc. Mount the scratch plate, and 1.2.3. testing
I've reached the conclusion that I think that's wrong too, and probably needs updated (if I can find the right waords). 
..... all of my purhases and GAS attacks of the last few months hve one thing in common. The best way I can put it is that I am looking for gear that helps me play in a more expressive way.
