Even though I love the way the stainless gun looks and the easier cleaning. I was not too long ago pondering the same question, I chose the Bruntion Model 96. The reason for why I chose that finish was easy(at least for me), I myself just HATE the silver front sight on the standard stainless guns,and a standard model was all I could afford then. Now if I would have had the money for a Stainless Brigader 96 thats what I would have got because of the dovetailed frontsite(black), and then I could have had the best of both worlds IMO. With that being said there is no way now that I will part with my 96 even though I am going to add to my Beretta family in the future and they will probably be stainless(as long as they have the dovetailed front site).