Dude - I don't think it's a anti-Hobie thing at all, and I hope you don't either. There's a HUGE difference between these two particular boats, and $500 is not much money for the jump to the newer one... even through we don't know the prices the guy's working with.

And I'm sure we all meant to welcome him to area sailing events regardless of the brand he chooses. It's tough enough to get new folks into the scene without tacit participation barriers. Happy to say we got a new Hobie 16 sailor from New Mexico here in the Panhandle last week.