One big advantage to Sitka is that Hildebrand can sell you matched shafts and can also tail taper them if you want. Sitka Spruce also has the highest strength to weight ratio of all woods. It also has a fiberous structure that hold it together. Tapering really helps with FOC. Footing helps with tip strength, altho that really isn't an issue, but actually does little for FOC. Going up a litte higher in point weight or woody weights will do far more. As the FOC moves forward, the length of the arm decreases forward and increases aft so increasing forward weight has much less effect than decreasing weight aft.