Not at all, I tend the use whatever I have, I grew up lusting after lima and hornby stuff in model shops so it's left a sort of misplaced loyalty, no doubt other manufacturers make better stuff.
The metcalfe signal box is quite nice.
My layout is basically a really big train set with a very 80's approach, which is a reflection on when I was growing up. The little signal box I've has since I was a nipper so it's always been on a layout in some way.