I'm having the same indecision over what struts/shocks to buy. Everyone swears by Bilstein HD, but I'm not sure I want to feel every little piece of gravel that I go over. Have had KYB in front and Bilstein Touring in rear: had the much-discussed problem of the clunky Bilstein Touring rear, and KYBs were too harsh. Replaced with Sachs Advantage front and rear, but after 3 years they are getting soft. I'm trying to decide between Bilstein HD and Koni Special (red).

I noticed you'd had Koni's and said they were "low compression teeth rattling Koni's." Were these the Special (red) or the Sport (yellow) Konis?

BTW, car has IPD 25mm front 23mm rear sway bars, upper strut plates, upper strut-to-firewall braces, lower chassis braces, IPD overload springs in rear, poly bushings in rear, blah blah.

One thing that DO know is that I'd like this to be my last strut replacement.