I really understand your dilemma. But note that if you go with Duncans, you'll probably get a very nice tone if you have the right chops but still you'll kepp wondering if a boutique pickup like Bare Knuckles made a significant difference. Swineshead pickups seem to be nice, they have those exotic woods and Jon also scatterwinds his pickups. But I think there's the "you get what you've paid for" rule as always. I guess a Swineshead's better than a Duncan but still inferior to a Bare Knuckle, and if not quality-wise, than because that there are only two hotter humbucker models to choose from.