My curve is a mess too, Vic. The last half-dozen Metros I've played haven't done a thing for me...and two of 'em would've been bought if they had. I think you're spot-on, and as I often forget, weight is a much bigger factor for most folks than it is for me. My only concern with the chambering is what effect it has on the low end. A couple of the NYC models I've played seem to require a lot of bass boost. In any case, it's not as if I get to play a lot of these things, so definitely factor in my very small sample size. My research findings, as is often the case, are based on generalizations. 
