Don,
I have the same pack, and I really like it.
I packed out about 60# of deer meat with it last fall-the meat shelf is nice!

Also agree with your other observations about the pack.
The only pack I have that is as comfortable is my Arc Teryx Bora, and that is high praise, as far as I am concerned.

"For joy of knowing what may not be known we take the golden road to Samarkand."
James Elroy Flecker