Thanks for the feedback guys. My fiddleback maple Nano came and it is just GORGEOUS. I love it! The new wall cable and stress relief is much sturdier feeling and the extra length is nice. I also really like the new heavier stem. My picture does not do either one of these units justice, but here it is hanging out with ol' walnut.
As far as I can tell after some light use, both units behave pretty much identically. Temperature settings are approximately the same on both, and I am still seeing the not-perfectly-cylindrical heat dispersion from the new guy. I suspect this to be a normal function of the design at this point. (I want to re-iterate that I really don't see this as an
Issue, since I get very full and even extraction by stirring once or twice, which would be necessary anyways to get everything on the bottom even with the top.)
Today I am going to put both Nanos on at about 7.4, load two adjust-a-bowl GonGs equally, and do 1 big hit on each without turning the Nano. Hopefully I can give you guys a better idea of what I am talking about with a couple pictures. I will also get pictures of the final ABV after stirring and a couple more hits.
Excelsior!