Cgiles,
Thank you for your frank appraisal. I hope that the responses you receive will not assuage others from making the same straightforward evaluations of other brand name boards, which should include discovered benefits as well as the short comings of the various instruments. The folks who make a living making music should especially welcome educated, upfront appraisals. One would hope however, that if a deficiency (other than personal preferences) is discovered in a particular board, a suggested remedy could be offered and/or collectively arrived at, since some of us already made some significant $ outlays.
Ciao,
Jerry