Lechwe
It will take a good bowyer (which I ain't any kind of a bowyer) to explain all the ins and outs, but look at many of the old target bows - there is a reason they were made that way. I feel you get an all around good thing - heavy riser (mass stability), smooth draw (overall longer bow for the same working limb), less floppy parts (limbs) and more solid parts (riser). The limb you have gets worked to its full potential, and in a recurve you can take full advantage of the curl. A long sight window has always seemed to me to be easier to shoot too. Its interesting to see/shoot some of the older bows that were "cutting edge technology" at the time and were designed in the heyday of field archery and thus were made with accuracy first and foremost in mind. Shooting Jack Howard bows (66 inch with a relatively short limb past the fadeouts) and my Wing P2 long riser has really changed my outlook on bow design.
Now, back to the TallTines love fest....
That IS a pretty bow, Steve-O. Its a shame to hit it with the rattle-can spray paint!
Ryan