The Longhorn is quick, has very little hand shock (the way I see it, every bow has some), and is one of the smoothest drawing bows I've ever pulled. The only negative things I can think of are the max length is 62" (I'd love to have one in a 64" or 66"), and the reflexed riser makes it less forgiving of form error vs. a deflexed riser--primarily torque. I wouldn't call it picky, just less forgiving than the Thunderbird or Crusader.
For woods, that's a tough call. I'm partial to the heavier riser woods--cocobolo, chechen, or Bolivian rosewood (or a combo of two of those). Yew will be the absolute smoothest and fastest, but in the wide, thin limbs of the Longhorn it won't make as much difference as it would in a Golden Hawk or Crusader. Hickory is an excellent standard limb wood, and looks good to boot. To really dress it up, bocote, Tamo ash, beeswing eucaplyptus, or figured maple veneers (or one on the front of the limbs, a different one on the back) makes a beautiful bow. If I got bocote veneer, I'd go with a half bocote riser as well. It's a hard call--I'll probably just have Marc pick the woods for me on my next bow--he hasn't dissapointed me yet.
Chad