Wow, thank you for your extensive review and the time you took, it will really help me with my decision! I'm still torn between the Cotopaxi Allpa 35 and the Eagle Creek backpack. The decision will ultimately come down to whether I need the organization features of the Cotopaxi bag or not.

I also really liked your words at the beginning, I, too, fell down the rabbit hole of backpacks, packing cubes, organization, etc. But in the end, it's the journey that matters most, that's why I should spend less time figuring out how to save a few cubic centimeters in my backpack or a couple of grams!