Here's my very amateur thoughts of what has worked for me:
I've got two G3 (aluminum) probes.. Speed Pro series; 250 cm model & the 320. Carrying bag is decent. Very straightforward to open up when the time is ticking. I have used them on overnights, glacier travel.. no complaints. Some of the inexperienced people I have been with have been able to extend them and have them locked with little problem. I think that is what the hinging point is between good gear and superb gear. Easy-straightforward-dependable.. this is what you need with shovels, beacons and probes when it counts right?
I have somehow adopted an Ortovox 'A6' model of probe. It is 250cms long, aircraft cable but for the life of me I can't figure out how to tighten it. Its almost like I'm missing a piece. I've YuToob-ed, looked around the Internet..been to the Ortovox website. They are a bit dated- 5-8 years old- but seem very dependable if I could just figure out how it worked. Surprising as Ortovox are very much a standard in Europe so I am very unsure why this piece of gear is confusing. I work with an Avalanche professional weekly so I am going to corner him and see what he thinks.
re:'..comparing the different pull/lock mechanisms out there...'
This is what concerns me as this is rescue gear & while I have several years of background, I am a bit surprised that I just cannot pick up this (Ortovox) probe & assemble it 
I have very little experience with these Carbon fibre poles. I hope they're well tested; they seem to be flimsy & en vogue. I question the savings of weight verses the dependability of them when it counts.
Something I do like and see more and more is laser or printed centimetre 'graduations' on probes. I worked as a ski patroller for many years and did more snow study plots/data collection then I care to remember & had the luxuary of the 'ole collapsable cabinetmakers ruler. Now-a-days using your probe, especially in deep areas or big snow regions like Rogers Pass, Icefields Parkway, or Northern BC.. a probe with numbers on it is one less thing to carry.
I have been in involved in several rescues, people buried/ fatalities & wonder what manuafactures do to test 'real world' conditions. (I remember when some manuafacturers came out with these high density plastics in shovels..are they still around?) I think many of us here have skied/boarded over old avalanche debris & runout and understand how thick blocks of ice & chunks of snow can be. A very serious situation when you are digging your friend out.
A final thought I took from an avalanche professional/ ACMG guide maaaany years ago was the attitude of whatever you use in the field.. it better work with gloves on, in the near dark and covered in ice. While a lofty goal, I appreciate what his message was. I really try to look at all my stuff with that attitude. The G3 for instance has a neat machined course threaded screw type disk for tensioning with cable on their probes. You can't lose it & its all there. Same with shovels: one little metal 'button' snap that I can beat the crap out of if its jammed with ice. Blade is steel, handle is dependable.
