I ordered a couple of the left-over Gold Chieftains from Phil Hardy, and they arrived in the mail today.
In short, I love 'em.
Being solid, machined brass, they’re quite a bit heavier than what I’m used to, but it doesn’t bother me much, I’ve got pretty strong hands.
The holes are pretty large, and have fairly sharp edges. This is very good for me. My fingers are thick, and pretty calloused from doing leatherwork. The sharp edges and large diameter means I can feel the holes pretty well.
The “A” whistle is just stunning. High enough to play higher-pitched tunes, yet so wonderfully mellow.
The “F” also is very nice, and plays quite well. A very round, mellow tone. Better for playing low when the tune isn’t really written for low. 
Breath requirements are fairly low, and I can feel a little back-pressure when playing the second octave.
Learning to keep the windway warm is going to be fun for a while. These are the first metal-fippled whistles I’ve owned. You guys aren’t kidding about condensation problems if the fipple is cold. Though once warmed up, it’s not a problem.
Funny with fingering styles. I find it impossible to do piper fingering on a low-D. My fingers just don’t hit it right. I’ve either got the joint of my second finger, or the joint of my third finger over the hole, which causes a poor seal. OTOH, My wife has to do piper-fingering on the Low F. She’s got long, skinny fingers, and normal fingering just gets 'em all bent up at weird angles and doesn’t get a consistent seal over the holes.