Hello Mechanic,
The Icon served me well. I bought it new, never had a mal and, some mud stains aside, it was still looking as brand new when I sold it.
I like that your reserve is bigger than you main in your second rig. I think that it is not sensible to have to experience flying a smaller canopy when you're a bit shaken up by a mal, most probably low and maybe forced to land out. Unfortunately, a lot of the 2nd hand rigs have a reserve 1 size smaller than the main (like your 1st rig). Although, if I remember correctly, it wasn't recommended to put a reserve bigger than the main in an Icon.
I feel for you about the slammer openings of the Sabre 1. I rented one day an Atom container with a PdF Merit main and I saw stars at every opening. Really unpleasant and I wouldn't want to experience that again nowadays with my older and stiffer neck.
The Pilot had much softer (and longer) openings, and a really great glide. The only thing I didn't like much about it was the relative lack of toggle response in the flare. You really have to bury the toggles to make it fly horizontal to the ground.
If I decide to take up skydiving again, I'll probably try to find a Vector with skyhook, 190 main with dacron lines to dampen the opening shock and 210 reserve. An old man rig
