Don's comment that "I think aesthetics of a gun is a valid fit point for some shooters" is likely correct, with the emphasis on 'some'.

I gave a wispy little AyA a try. As beautiful as that gun was, it was no dice. A nifty Bernadelli also received my honest best effort. I sucked.

I wanted very much to be able to shoot those guns. Down the road to new owners they went.

What came along eventually was a Rizzini, just as pretty as the others I failed with but this one has a high stock, a long pull, and some weight in the ends. Bingo. I can shoot it.

"The price of good shotgunnery is constant practice" - Fred Kimble