I'll tell you guys something, Lynn sent the prototype brush to me for me to evaluate . I absolutely love the handle. It is long enough to where your fingers aren't 'in the bowl' when lathering and IMHO is a beautiful design to boot. The bristles are gorgeous. Densely packed and the contrast between the black and white was striking. I've had the best of the Simpsons, Rooneys and Plissons and I can tell you the brush I examined was the equal of any I've seen. The tips were buttery soft but absolutely no flop to this brush. Backbone that doesn't quit. No scritch on the one I tested if that is an issue one way or the other. So if you're on the fence jump on in .... the water is fine.