Dynafit Vertical vs Dynafit Speed....Help??

I recently saw STs on line for 271$ "sorry out of stock " when I pulled the trigger though. My second dynafit rig will be sans brakes. this has been a good thread as I was thinking of the speeds but now will stick to comforts or STs

I have both setups, the Speed and the Vertical FT. The FT is pretty similar to the ST in design. The whole carbon plate thing on my FT is a bunch of crap and makes for more problems than I think it is worth. It integrates the binding into the riser plate which makes it difficult to makeshift the system.
I have to agree with GregL on the whole brake thing. More of an inconvenience than anything. There have been several articles written about setting up break away straps to use as safety straps in case of avys.

In my opinion the toepiece is the tragic flaw to the FT/ST system and it is not such an easy fix in the field. The toe piece lever sticks out on the FT/ST system making it prone to getting easily broken. READ THIS . I never had this problem with the Speed toe.

The toes Speed Vs Vertical=The speed has a lower profile toe lever and is a lot more difficult to click up into lockout mode in the field, compared to easy click of the ST/FT lever. But that comes at a cost in durability.

Not sure if I like the FT system's performance yet, I mounted them perfectly on a pair of Kalias skis, boot center DEAD CENTER ON SKI MARK, but they ski like I'm on my heels all the time and it feels like there is an extra foot of ski in front of me.
I measured the ramp angles between the Speeds and the Verticals and surprisingly the Verticals have larger degree of ramp angle from heel to toe than the Speeds and FT's are also raised higher off the ski. So this is a big mystery since the Kalias is a remount from Fritschi's, and they skied just super before the Dyna-fiddling around. Not sure what resolution there is to this problem other than a forward remount, and my boots ski perfectly in my Classic setup so there is no reason to shim a boot up for one ski.

Here's a summary I put together of the different models:
picasaweb.google.com/jshefftz/Dynafit#5322701043264971890

In my opinion the toepiece is the tragic flaw to the FT/ST system and it is not such an easy fix in the field.

I remember that, Joe. Quite a "sticky" problem.

The toes Speed Vs Vertical=The speed has a lower profile toe lever and is a lot more difficult to click up into lockout mode in the field, compared to easy click of the ST/FT lever.

If you are just pulling up on the lever (or using your pole under it), the longer length of the Vertical lever gives you an advantage. If you put your thumb on the little side tab on the Speed/Classic lever, though, and twist your wrist, I think you generate about the same force. The Vertical levers don't have the side tab.

I measured the ramp angles between the Speeds and the Verticals and surprisingly the Verticals have larger degree of ramp angle from heel to toe than the Speeds and FT's are also raised higher off the ski.

The shimming ideas discussed in this thread seemed pretty sensible to me. I'm curious how much effect ramp angle has on things.

Also - got a chance to take a peek at a set of Verticals - same dull grey cast construction as many Speeds I've seen.

So here's a question for you dynafit experts.
Has anybody developed a technique for getting the dynafits clicked in on a steep icy slope where you can't dig a bench for the skis or get your tails in.( Imagine a really steep boot pack on an icy slope)

When in this situation with my Fritchis I can usually manage by inserting my toe into the binding and that gives me enough grip to ensure the ski does not go skittering down the slope as I lever my heel in.
When trying the same with my dynafits, I am always worried that the ski is going to get away from me and leave me stranded and it feels way more sketch. I have brakes and a guess a leash would help but anybody developed a routine for this situation?????