@Micha der Wolf if you had the opportunity to try out any iwata and especially with your talent, I am 99.9% sure that you would instantly be converted, I had problems with an H&S Evo silverline and after six months of suffering these problems I trashed the brush and disposed of it, im not saying they are bad brushes, I clearly had a Monday model but that left me with trust issues, shortly after that I got my first iwata and from then on I wouldn't buy any other brand
For anyone to be able to notice the difference in a high end brush they would haveto have some basic skill and knowledge and you my friend are way beyond that, you deserve the best because you have earned it, your H&S has served you well for 12 years because you treated it with respect in all that time and knew how to look after it so an iwata would be in a good home and serve you just as well