Tele Weight Comparison 1: Bindings

So I became a little irritated by my weight options in terms of a backcountry Telemark setup.  I know, a Telemarker complaining about the weight of their gear.  Well here is a quick list:

Brand	Model	Stiffness	Weight (g)	Weight (lbs)	Price
Voile	Switchback	Soft	1362	3.00	$279
G3	Targa Ascents	Soft	1418	3.13	$299
Voile	Switchback X2	Soft/Mild	1451	3.20	$299
Black Diamond	01	Soft-Stiff	1750	3.86	$299
22 Designs	Axl	Stiff Dick	1769	3.90	$320
Rotterfella	NTN	Stiff Dick	1850	4.08	$399

A little discretion to this list: these are current bindings that I felt necessary for such a list.  All of these bindings have some sort of free pivoting system that makes touring in the Backcountry MUCH more easier.  Other binding currently being sold just plain out suck ass.  If these were inbound bindings then I would say screw weight and go with what feels equally responsive and stiff.  This leads me to make two definitions.

• Stiffness: A binding that you can feel.  Sorry for the macho man allegory but think of your heel as a big giant pussy and the cartridge binding system as a penis.  A stiff penis feels really good for that pussy because you will have hot tele sex turns all day while a soft dick just flops around and eventually puts you on your knees to take a mouth-load (snow) or force you to fix your pussy heels like all pussy fixed heelers.  
• Responsiveness: A matter of how quickly your binding react to your knee drop/heel rise.  A binding with weak response will almost feel as if nothing is keeping you on the ski; this would feel very similar to a three pin binding system.  A binding that is very responsive will give immediate communication to your heel saying, "Hay you!  You better tear up this slope and make some powerful turns.  **Responsiveness is subjective to personal opinion**

So as you can see the stiffer the flex, the more weight you add.  I have also noticed the heavier binding in general are more responsive.  For example:

• Both Voie Switchbacks and the G3s are very soft flexing bindings, especially the G3s.  Where is the new Switchback X2s are slightly more responsive then its predecessor, I find that all three of the bindings lack communication with my tele dance and are floppy cocky.  
• The 22 Designs Axls and the Rotterfella NTN are really stiff and responsive binding systems.  In fact I would dare to say the NTNs are too stiff and definitely too responsive! 
•  What is that? Too responsive?  You see, there comes a point were you must ask yourself, "Are you actually telemarking, or are you a fixed heeler in denial?"  The NTNs are too responsive.  The system wants to keep your heels down so badly that it really takes away the freedom of the heel in telmarking altogether.  Also, while I am ranting about the NTNs, I believe they are going in the right direction removing the 75 mm duck bill (break my duck billed soul) but the bindings have horrible touring functionality, and who gives a shit about releasability (A: pussy fixed heelers).  
• The Black Diamond 01s.  Well these have been great bindings.  Large range of motion for touring and reasonable weight.  Anywhere from soft flex cartridges to ridiculously stiff cartridges (not as stiff as Axl or NTN).  I would say moderate response, but if you would want a slightly more powerful and responsive binding without compromising too much weight, definitely go with the 22 Designs Axls.  These are very innovative bindings, and have the wiggle room to loose some weight.  
• Rumor has it (according to multiple reps) that Black Diamond has an even lighter version of the 01s that have been in full operation.  What I have been told multiple times though is that they will not release it any time soon because there is no demand for them where is the cost outweighs the revenue that may be generated.   Well what the fuck Black Diamond!  You guys are pretty much the standard for a good portion of the backcountry ski industry.  Release the bindings, set the precedence, and the demand will come.  Fuck you guys.  My votes on tele-tech.