Ski length vs price

Here's a brief bio of Bryce the founder of EVO for those that are interested.
I admit it... he's one of my heros.... even though he's much younger ( and smarter) than me and freestyler.!!!

groupynetwork.com/bio/bryce-phillips/

Voelkl Nanuq sizing?
www.skinet.com/skiing/gear/volkl/volkl-nanuq-2010   seems to indicate that Voelkl thinks the ski should be chosen much shorter than one might choose for other brands and styles?

No. Your link suggests the ski Volkl sent to the reviewers was too short.

Marmot has a great crew who personally ski their talk, and  their suppliers provide them training to appropriate size skis for their customers.  I think they have a big selection of rental skis to test, and the rental cost might be applied to a purchase.

Evo online seems to me to be a discount warehouse of leftovers, and their shop in Fremont aims at young freestylers mainly.

Martin also tries to give folks what they seem to want, even if his personal preference is more Euro trad, narrower and lighter.

This thread isn't about which shop you personally prefer or what generation you like to identify with. I've had good AND bad experiences at Marmot, Evo, and Proskier NB despite having friends who have worked at these shops in the past (Marmot) or still working at (Proskier/Evo). My pointing out the ski at Evo was to point out a good price on the 181 size, done before the OP stated his preference for Marmot since they'd been helping him.

Personally, I've never been into any shop in the last 10 years where the sales person has recommended the proper size ski to me. They ALWAYS suggest a ski 10-20 cm below what I am using as they cater to the average and uninformed skiers, primarily.

Can TAY sprayers stick to what we are trained at, and leave ski sizing to the pros?

To assume that because someone works at a shop makes them a better skier or more qualified to answer a question, as posed by the OP IN THIS THREAD regarding ski length, is in IMHO shortsighted at best.

The unrockered 184 Karhu spire will be more challenging in the powder and the hardpack than a rockered tip ski of the same length. Do you follow the logic there?

I don't agree, and it may be splitting hairs. The reason is that the Spire has a much softer ski shovel than most skis do, so in a way it kind of eliminates the driving shovel force of a conventional cambered ski that has a stiffer shovel.
Do you follow? I'm not sure I do.
Like my Kailas ski has a soft shovel, in effect gives it the rocker feel, but you have a complete edge on the snow. Unusually softer skis have more difficulty holding an edge in hardpack or ice, but the Kailas ski holds a great edge on the hard stuff.
I contend that a (SERFCFT) short early rise full camber flat tail is the way to go or the softer shovel like the Kailas.
My thoughts are you get the use of the rocker, why carry any extra weight if it is not going to get used?
Bottom line I think that the Spire will work out just fine.

Voelkl Nanuq sizing?
Can TAY sprayers stick to what we are trained at, and leave ski sizing to the pros?

I know it was a generalized statement and not a personal attack. 
Since shops work with people on a daily basis they get a lot of info that helps build a database of knowledge. That is why when I shop I act like I know nothing, and I respond with questions that says I know what I'm talking about. Like them I'm learning all the time.
Like a ski whisperer I can go through a wall of skis. Flex them in full length, flex in smaller areas of the ski, twist them, eye the edges and know how that ski works for me. Skis flex differently when bindings go on them too.
The Volkl Nanuq is just an all wood Mantra. I resort ski a 191 Mantra and I know what it can do.
So the all wood Nanuq is enticing for touring, lighter with a snappy flex, good enough float. All the qualities of the metal Mantra without the umpfh. Just a 177 clearly will not do when I ski a 191 with metal. It feels a lot like the Dynafit Stoke, but the Stoke is wider, I think lighter and has a smoother flex overall, where the Nanuq is a little snappier more energy loaded in the layup.

I would trade my 182 Stoke for a 191 in a heartbeat.
But I MTB ride XL 29ers so bigger is better for me

When are you going to admit your STOKES are too short and sell them to me? I'm becoming impatient!

Edit to Your Edit: ;OOOOOHH I think your edit just did! Cool, how much???
Edit to Your second edit: 29'ers are the equivalent of rocker in MTB world.

When are you going to admit your STOKES are too short and sell them to me? I'm becoming impatient!

Go buy the 191 at Mountain Gear and we can negotiate on a trade!