SK,
Thanks for doing all this! You should definitely veto a few options when they don't add up. Design purely by pole doesn't always totally work, because some options work better in combination with others. For example I agree the stone wash looks bad in the mockup, but if the bolsters were also stone washed and a rougher finished micarta was used, I think it would look great! Also light weight carbon fiber in combo with light weight aluminum bolsters would offer some real benefits.
Anyway, the blue looks great and I really like the clean lines the no nail nick version offers, I think it would be a good seller for you! Dang you, I don't need to buy anymore knives...... but might HAVE to buy that one!!