I picked up my first Harris in 1998. I then bought a pair of Winchester branded (Chinese) clones within a year after. Other than ONE SCREW, I wouldn't be able to identify the Winchester's from the Harris's. The Harris design is great, but the Harris brand on the bag doesn't bestow magical properties to the pod inside. The 27" Harris (branded, not the clones) has a lot of flex when fully extended, and personally, I believe there are far better options if you're shooting from seated or higher. I'm not sure if I've ever handled a Caldwell version more than once, as I only recall ever having ONE which a customer provided for an AR I was building. I do have Blackhawk knock off's as well, can't say there's really much difference in any of them. I'm sure there are some lighter built knock-off's out there which will flex considerably more than the ones I own and maybe the Caldwell is one of the more "flexible" knock offs - I can't say for sure - but I can't say I can tell the difference in the ones I own. ALL of them flex when extended to 27", it's just too long for such a small diameter leg. Again, there are better options for shooting at that height and taller.
The swivel is worth it, and all of the rhetoric about adjusting the legs to level the rifle, whether with notches or with the non-notched legs is really just an excuse for a poorer system. ALL of the Harris pods can be adjusted for independent leg length, but doing so is PAINFULLY slow, and requires a LOT of movement. The pivoting heads are well worth the added cost. I add the pivot lock knobs on all of mine, but really only to sate my OCD to keep it level when folded, as I typically end up firing with the pivot free (not sloppy loose, mind you). If you're only shooting one direction from one position at one target, and not a living target, then sure, take your time, move around, and level with your leg lengths. But if you're hunting, where you need fast deployment, might need to track a target animal by moving the rifle, and certainly will be exposed to uneven terrain, then the pivot head really shines, where leveling with the legs will falter.
Similarly, while the notched legs can be adjusted more quickly than the friction lock legs, they still only adjust in one inch increments, so you don't get the option to perfectly level the rifle. It's better than nothing, but the infinite adjustment position of the friction lock legs plus the pivot head is really the better system if you're shooting long enough where a leveled rifle actually makes a difference.
