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+3 on this concept. Where the weight is distributed and where it flexes might change how it feels for your whole body mechanics.

IF they win.

Did you line them up blade to blade to confirm they are indeed the same lie? Can you take both sticks on the bench and switch shift to shift to confirm it's the stick and not just that maybe you were stiff that day and playing more upright than usual?

I just tried on some TF7s. My MLX are a size 10 and my right foot, which is slightly longer than my left, touches the toe box with slightly more than feathering pressure. I tried the TF7s in 10.0R and was swimming and felt like my arch didn’t line up with that of the boots; 9.5W felt like I could sharpen them and go without any baking, though the heel felt a bit relaxed; 9.5R felt on the money: snug, with even pressure everywhere except across the forefoot—there it was a touch too tight, but I’m confident a bake would fix that—toes were feathering the toe cap more ideally than they do in my 10 MLX. Now I wish I had tried 9.0W + R, but that’ll have to be for another day.

Best all-around stick is a stiff-flex Easton Aluminium with a wood blade. You can probably find that combo online for $50 tops. It's indestructible, you can snap any $400 composite twig in half with a good slash, and you probably won't outperform it on the ice (judging from your post). Plus, it's a classic twig so you'll look really cool. Go with any curve, since slashing and stick checking doesn't depend on what curve you have. Have fun!

Still the best shoulder pads I’ve ever worn.

it is all preference.

Well, this sucks.