ED,
I prefer some kind of balance in a pen your second one goes a long way toward that, also considerations become necessary how (for me) to come down to the top and the tip, just this morning drilled the balance of 44 pens started drilling off centre to chase sapwood and grain so the list is endless. Design is personal some people like pencil thin slims I dont so naturally (for me) I never make skinny slims cause when you look at the thickness of timber left you might as well wrap veneer around the brass with all of the possible consequences of splits etc.
Like your pen have fun with shapes it would appear others agree with me.
Kind regards Peter.
