Since the SCELBI was sold as assembled, kits or bare boards, what you do about sockets is largely up to you. However based on observations of original SCELBI mini-computers, here are some suggestions to make your SCELBI more authentic.
Suggestions for the Front Panel, CPU, DBB and Input Boards:
Many of the boards that I’ve seen, use the Molex strip connectors mentioned in an earlier post for all ICs on the board. SCELBI instructions only mention using these for the 8008 and soldering the rest of the chips directly to the PCB. I have seen one original system set up this way. Since the 8008 is the only rather expensive chip used on these boards, I have chosen to follow instructions and solder all parts to the PCB, except the 8008. If I need to pull a 74xx part, I’ll cut the legs off and remove the legs individually. A friend of mine managed to obtain a roll of the MOLEX pins and I installed those for the 8008. They are rather fidgety to install, and I suspect reliability might be an issue. Even if you can find enough stock to do an entire system, I wouldn’t recommend doing a whole system with those MOLEX pins. I have also seen one 8B that used regular 70s style closed frame solder tail sockets. You should be able to find a bunch of older closed frame sockets at surplus dealers, if you want to socket your boards. I haven’t seen any SCELBIs with machine pin sockets.
Suggestions for the Memory Cards
Though the instructions don’t call for sockets, all the memory cards I have seen, use either MOLEX strip sockets or old style closed frame sockets. Apparently memory was expensive enough and perhaps failed often enough in those days that soldering in memory was not considered wise.
Example Closed Frame Socket Used on SCELBI Memory Board.
Closed Frame Socket
I believe this one is made by SCANBE. SCANBE’s were also used in arcade machines and have a terrible reliability according to arcade system restorers. I’ve seen one page that suggests replacing all SCANBE sockets before proceeding further.
More on Molex Strip Sockets
Here is a page from an old (1973) MOLEX M-100 catalog
MOLEX strip sockets
I agree with what you said about the molex pins. I wouldn’t recommend using them for more than a couple of chips. They can be finicky to install, and my memory of them is that connection wise they could be a bit flaky.
I think installing the RAM chips in sockets is definitely a good idea though. I don’t know why, but in my experience static RAM chips, particularly early ones like the 2102 and 1101, have a high failure rate.