You are so right, Highland Piper!
I’ve been watching various YouTube videos and am beginning to realize that to learn which is the “best” it is preferable to actually try several different models out. Unfortunately, the only person I know who even has a low whistle is residing in Alberta - I’m in south west BC. The on line videos seem to vary widely according to both the abilities, preferences and tastes of the individuals playing. Even lining up several clips of the same instrument being played by different musicians produces a wide variation in breathiness, colour & depth of tone, and ease of transition from one octave to the next.
A huge part of the learning process for me, at the moment, is just listening to as much whistle playing as possible to educate my ear. Often, the music does wonders for lifting one’s mood. Although some airs are slow and melancholic, most seem to have that special sparkle that lightens the heart. I’m much more familiar with BC and Canadian Folk Songs, as a former member of the Vancouver Folk Song Society.
Local music stores will bring in a few instruments, but won’t take them back if they don’t meet up to one’s expectations.
I found some high Bb, C, and D Generation whistles while visiting the next town. It wasn’t until I got home that it became clear that the D is almost unplayable. It wasn’t possible to try out the instruments in the store, and of course, once played, they don’t accept them back. The Generation D is prone to sqweaking and takes more air than the Clarke. It’s high D is very weak. The Bb has a fairly breathy, has a bright tone tone, breaks on the high D, so doesn’t compare to the Clarke MEG C or D. The Generation C has a nice bright tone and seems to handle fairly well, yet I still prefer the tone of the Clarke MEG C. The Generations were slightly more expensive than the one Clarke purchased, which goes back to the adage [on a different forum topic] that higher cost does not necessarily mean a better whistle. The three Generations were so inexpensive that it was worth trying them out. They can always join the music toy box. My grand kids and their friends love to have ‘band’ sessions. [Perhaps because I’m the only one in the neighbourhood who is deaf enough not to be driven to the streets by the racket. 
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The best value so far is the MEG high C, which was a find in the kids old toy box. Ironically, I don’t recall any of them ever playing it and have no idea where it came from.
To follow your advice and come up with a clear criteria, I’ll have to do a lot more listening, reading and comparing. So far, clear rich tone, low air requirement, even progression between octaves and adaptability to smaller hands are all factors being considered. From what I’ve read and heard so far, I’m leaning toward the MK Pro, but am uneasy about the all aluminium structure. Have you, or any of the other posters, played an all aluminium whistle? Is there a metallic taste when playing it?
PS. Mutepointe, the whistle count is raising rather dangerously [5 whistles and 3 recorders in 10 days…
dor c
