What a lovely and complete response. See ... I learned something else from you just by reading it. Your analogies were also great. They reminded me why you test drive a car before you buy it -- and why one will be just perfect while another ... perfectly good one ... just doesn't fit your style and personality.

Oddly, your explanation about bows reminded me, too, of the fact that computer keyboards are also so different in their feel and response. Being a writer, I find this just as important to me as your violin bow is to you as a musician. There is an inexpensive little basic keyboard that Amazon puts out for $15 that I just love to type on. No kidding, it is so much fun to write on it. I can't begin to tell you why except that it is fast, responsive, comfortable ... a "partner" in the effort, just as you described. I've had other keyboards that look pretty much the same, but were just awful in practice.

This little cheapo guy even beats the expensive ergonomic keyboards all to pieces, IMO ... and, yes, if they ever stop making this design I am not going to be happy. It took me years to find this fit ... and I wear out an average of two keyboards a year ... just doing what I do.

Thanks for the time you took on this answer. Srsly. I appreciate it.