Sometimes it comes down to aesthetics. I like Garhauer and have their blocks. But I consider the E38 traveler elegant, and it has the unusual attribute that the original gear is still manufactured--by Ronstan, in Australia. The original traveler is not butter-smooth, true, but it works fine in my world. Every attempt I have seen to upgrade it to modern conceptions has resulted in, well, what is to my eye a violation of Ericson smooth.
I use the traveler a lot. I can trim mine easily on any point of sail except close hauled, over 15 knots, using 77-year old muscle power (ha ha).
Here is the pictorial difference, on the E38, between the original equipment and a so-called upgrade. Choice is in the eye of the beholder.
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