Nice item! Nice weight! Nice price too.

I'm still interested in a regular ice axe, though, and I'll try to get to a shop to play with one sometime this week (2 hr. round trip). That will settle things out pretty quickly. I like the idea of the strength for winter scrambling in the local hills and ravines -- the equivalent of a gym membership for keeping some level of fitness during these cold months.

As well, when I start asking around I'll bet people in the climbing community have old beater ice axes they'll part with for cheap. Assuming they're restless gearheads like I tend to be. With a new gear category, you don't know what you want until you know what you don't want.