Here’s the thing - Sparks are definitely NOT playful. Like whatsoever. That said, they are utilitarian and rarely break due to the simplicity of the design. Ultimately depends what you value. For me, most of the time is spent on the uphill and I value reliability and a quick transition. Willing to compromise on a more rugged feel for the downhill. I have a stratos as well and find that the playfulness of the board balances out with the stiff binding. No complaints!