Yup, and I agree with your sentiments. I have two Briggs bags that I travel with regularly, and they’re great bags but they are less suited to full time use. I’ve managed to break all of the exterior compression straps, and that damn external handle, with having to hoist it up 7 feet to the baggage door, catches on the lip every damn time.

But I guess that’s really outside the scope of this discussion, since Briggs and Riley is a bit outside the op’s budget unless they’re looking into the used market.