Having been on a bit of a bat buying spree over the last couple of months, the one's I've been most impressed with in terms of craftmanship (prior to getting them in the nets) are a H4L Excel, a M&H S6 and a Lekka (English-made). When I get them in the nets I'll have a better idea of what I have though.
Having said that, my GN Xiphos PP still goes like a train, even though it's starting to show it's age.
the latest additions are better suited to providing the weapons for the modern game
That may be true, but how many of us really play a
"modern game"? I for one still play the way I always did, which is generally trying hard not to get out early on so that I can smack the ball about a bit later!