My stealth is still working good. The Pax has become "hers" and the Ascent has become mine. I've been experimenting with load size, spacers, temps, etc. and I think I'm getting good results. Before I was packing the living hell out of the bowl, which produces good clouds, gets me where I need to be, and makes it so I don't have to re-load throughout the day (and for long car trips). But boy does it go through herb fast that way.
Recently, I've messed with cotton or a glass marble as a spacer, to keep the load tight at the bottom (and the nice side effect of keeping the glass stems a little cleaner too). Both work well, and I think I prefer the organic cotton over the marble, since I can adjust the amount of cotton but the marble is a fixed size.
I've been going with 375, then 400, then finishing at 430. So far, I'm happy with it... Though all the other QC issues others are having does concern me. While I experience no noticeable off-gas, my panels are all perfect, the seals are fine, etc. my only current complaint is that the digital gauges seem to be off like others have mentioned. When I increase from 375 to 400, it doesn't even show it's heating, but just pops up to 400 right away. And, yes, it does seem to get too hot and start to shut itself down, which can be stopped and restarted with a reboot, but it is annoying. And the battery gauge will show full, then half, then if you turn it off and back on, it will be 3/4. It's just not accurate enough. I have a strong feeling that it could show almost dead and still run another hour. I don't like that.
I do seem to be suffering from VAS as I now too want to grab the Pinnacle Pro and play with it. I so do NOT need another vape right now, but if the Pax freaks out again (have sent it back to Ploom 3x) or this Ascent starts with issues, then I've got problems.
My main needs are (in order of importance to me):
1. Portability and stealth (travel a lot), this includes size, ease of use, bowl size, loading easily while driving, etc
2. Effect
3. Taste
Pax did well for a while (but when I travel it leaves the wife with nothing). I am wondering how the Ascent will handle #1 and will find out soon, but I'm worried about it. Just wondering the the Pn Pro would be better in any of those areas.