Personally, the "switchology" is one of the most important factors for a laser aiming device.

I've seen a lot of guys get on the range and fumbling with switches, cycling through settings, and generally fiddling with their lasers and laser settings, which is fine on a range, however, if you're using the device "for real," IMHO, it is of the utmost importance that you can get the thing to do what you want, when you want, on the first try--in the dark, without looking at it, and being honest, seeing lasers discussed in various venues online, I think the importance of this frequently gets overlooked in a sea of "output" and "features" discussions.

IMHO, there is a definite "sweet spot" in terms of functionality and features versus ease of use--"training issue," sure, but some products are simply better designed from a human engineering standpoint.

On the one had, you have a device that's just plain old simple--you know what it's going to do when you activate it, because it's only got one or two settings, so you can adjust your use parameters based on a reliable understanding of a limited number of options. However, you will need to be sober about what limitations that simplicity may impose on you.

On the other hand, you can have a device that's chock full of features, but they're so difficult / complicated / poorly designed that it becomes difficult to use or access them that either the majority of them become essentially moot, or you end up fiddling with it in the field trying to get to the setting you want, which could lead to excessive exposure time or missing a shot, as well as signature if you're actively cycling through settings.

Take a device like the NGAL for example, sure, it has a lot of improvements compared to the legacy ATPIAL, smaller size/weight/form factor, VCSEL-based illuminator, VIS override function--however, I think the Number 1 improvement is the rear beam divergence adjustment thumbwheel, that potentially allows you to dial in the illuminator width without breaking your grip, unlike the ATPIAL, which while easy to use, required you reach up to the illuminator bezel to adjust.

In terms of the MAWL, to me one of the great strengths of the MAWL is how close it gets to that "sweet spot," when you think about it, the MAWL actually has quite a lot of settings / features, however it is very quick, easy, and intuitive to learn, use, and change settings on with the combination between the shuttle switch and A/B button mode switching.

While it may sound obvious, it's often a "lightbulb" moment when we emphasize to folks that because a) it's probably going to be dark, b) night vision devices have a fixed focal plane that is usually not located right around the muzzle of the weapon, whatever you do in terms of control manipulations needs to be done by feel, without visual input, so while mashing a single ON/OFF switch may get the job done under most circumstances, truly mastering the functions of the device can be critical to effective use and maximizing capabilities.

Beyond that, while I wish them well and am glad to see a more commercial / recreationally focused option becoming available--combination white light / IR devices have tended to be one of those ideas that "briefs well," but doesn't really work out that well in execution for a number of reasons, and in my experience most folks eventually end up preferring separate white light / IR solutions over a combination device.

Meanwhile, mechanical offset is again, one of those things that I hear a lot of people talk about on the internet, however, almost never have I heard it being considered a significant difficulty or limitation in the field.

"Tighter to the rail" is likewise primarily only important for one of three reasons:

- reduced mechanical offset, however, many folks shooting with IR lasers are now also running high-mount optics, and even if not, optic offset is almost always going to be significantly greater than laser offset -- again, an issue that generally overblown in discussion, IMHO

- less interference with support hand-grip ("C-clamp"), however, the wide form factor could work against that slightly--and in comparison to the MAWL specifically, it's still not any "tighter" in terms of support hand grip

- daytime optic occlusion / interference -- again, not not a thing, but there have been thousands of people who have gone to war with absolute cowitness optics and PEQs, while meanwhile, the recent increase in popularity of high mounted optics is reducing the importance of this

Of course, the final issue is price, which, unfortunately none of us can really do a whole lot about, and it for sure hurts, and as you pointed out, the MAWL was not an inexpensive device to begin with.

As I've mentioned a couple of times before in another thread, unfortunately, the price of laser components has for sure risen quite a bit over the last year, and pretty much every major laser manufacturer has had at least two price increases in 2022. The MAWL specifically is actually fairly technologically complex, which is part of the reason it was always so expensive in the first place, and which does contribute to its size, weight, and form factor, but in this case also contributes to the size of price increase relative to other manufacturers--more component intensive, more significant impact of component cost increases.

If buying new now, it could be a good idea to explore options and consider alternatives, though I still believe that the MAWL acquits itself very well from a performance, switchology, and accessibility standpoint, even with the new pricing.

However, especially if you were able to get a pre-increase priced MAWL, I would not even remotely consider switching--even if it were to be wash in terms of capabilities and performance (which at very least, you're losing the VIS laser) and an improvement in overall weight (white light delete), it would be (again, IMHO) a massive step down in versatility, adaptability, and flexibility--and that's not me trash talking the CTF 2/3, there are applications for which I think even something like the TOR-MINI are sufficient.

But you're not trying to choose a new device to match you needs and budget, but rather currently you already have one of the best, most versatile, and most capable systems available, and IMHO almost any alternate option would most likely be a downgrade.

~Augee