Agreed.
The Talon, like the Trident, like the DS, is very fond of over-flaring. This is a nice effect to some extent. Great if that is what you want, but to obtain normal (proper) Flic-Flacs requires some more discipline. You indeed need to 'choke' the kite early and pull it back into line.
This I feel is a slight trade-off to overly-pitchey designs, but can be controlled with 'expert' inputs. Now it seems that easy-peasy Flic-Flacs are a harder trick to perform and even something to be admired because of pitchey designs.
I think that clean Flic-Flacs on a contemporary kite are a good example of a skilled and aware trick flier. Whereas, on older designs it was a no-brainer, just like making a kite do a yoyo today. It's not hard, it's the fashion, it's quite easy because the kite is designed that way.
I'll readily admit that my designs are heavily pitch influenced, but I've watched people do better Flic-Flacs on my kite than me and they've only flown it for 30 seconds!
It's still a trick and requires flier-brain to perform properly.
It's strange that I think myself a better flier than some people, but those very same people can make the kite side-slide for a considerably longer period than I.
I guess they're just damned-well more experienced at that trick than me!
But then, isn't a Guru flier someone who can pick up any old piece of tat and make it look fantastic? I think they can! I've seen them do it! It's amazing!
Gawd bless 'em, these are the people who make the news at the Olympics
Top-man Goff can still put us in our place in a comp, even though he's flying a kite that actually isn't capable of all the newest tricks. Limit him to a Dot Matrix and he'll still make you work for your place.
Flier skilll. Priceless. It's all in your head and if you practice it enough then you become exceptional, whatever the circumstances and conditions.
Mark