You are totally right, although it was rated OFF- when it came out.
I know you really like All wood blades, but have you ever tried the NSO? If not you really should. It's a real topspinfactory.
The thin carbon directly underneath the thin Hinoki top ply has a real good feel but still gives enough power to loop from a step or two behind of the table but doesn't feel so wobbly like the NSD (Nittaku Shake Defence) 'cause it's not so BIG headed like the NSD and a little stiffer as it, too, but still has enough flex to put some nice rotation on the ball.
There is this one guy who collects old blades and runs this website:
http://tt-museum.jimdo.com
(@Liten: this might be interesting for you, too)
Someone asked him in his guestbook (?!) if he would be selling one NSO just a couple of weeks ago, but the answer was no, 'cause he's only got one left. But he'd sell any other blade (Aaargh!!)
You should really try it, it's a real well balanced blade IMHO and it doesn't feel like that "typical" classic carbon blade at all.
One guy on a german forum, who owns all 4 types of the Nittaku shake series and posted a pic of them and wrote that one of his NSD (Nittaku Shake Defence) is actually faster than his NSO, 'cause the NSD is way more thick. (must be that inertia and so)
He's also pretty active on other Forums and posted the same pics right here:
http://mytabletennis.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=69217&PN=5
But he also doesn't want to sell his NSO... yet
Maybe getting used to a blade that isn't produced anymore is just not a very wise decision...
But there would be a blade that plays pretty close to the NSO.
Its name is Yinhe Bogen
The ply setup is supposed to be like this:
Hinoki ( 0,6 ) - Carbon ( 0,1 ) - Ajous ( 4,0 ) - Carbon ( 0,1 ) - Hinoki ( 0,6 mm )
Have you ever played with that blade or heard of it? Well i don't.
PLUS it doesn't seem to be produced anymore as well, 'cause i could only find one single shop selling it on the whole wide web... (Aaargh again!!!)
The 7P-2A is an allwood blade, that's why i thought the Darker 'Esteem' would be closer to my NSO, but in terms of speed i guess you're right again.... Man, i don't know.. My vision's getting blurry again...
Maybe i should have a cup of tea and a liedown...