Hey Alistair –
Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply.It’s given me lots to think about. I guess the main takeaway is to find a horn that plays smoothly and technically well, and then to match it with mouthpiece and playing style.

It feels like there should be some scientific way to assess these things though – like greg is trying to do with Windworks – to bring a more rigorous approach… I hear so many different things. For instance, the trumpet salesman espouses the free-blowing qualities of reverse lead pipes, but when he doesn’t have an alternative model with reverse lead pipe, he says it’s not important…
Small bore, large bore… open blow, more resistance. I’d still like to know what is my goal and how will that interface with the instrument. If I’m trying to make less effort, will that be best assisted / realised with a more open horn? Or more ‘efficient’ horn…
I need a trumpet myth buster. The views of various horn players are pretty confusing.

Thanks for the lead on the Bach 3 and Curry TC. I reckon they are both not such expensive options to try out.
And I’ll keep practicing. 🙂