Rick, in response to you post on the CA page . . .
I would not say give up, but I called them about a month ago and they said I would be looking at April before they started my TBM. That means I would have to cover it and test fly it in less than a month before our first contest. I was thinking about asking them in April to move me into December (of next year) so that I could finish it over next winters building season. But Nothing is final yet. The Nice thing about the CA is that I know I can have it in a week or two to my door.

As for all extra's needing the mixing, definitely not. I flew Jim's 42% von extra 260 on the 3rd flight and he had still put no mixing in it. It didn't need any at all.
My Dad's Great planes Extra 330 doesn't need any aileron mixed to rudder.
On the 260 the combination of the mid wing, and the dihedral angle they have set make it a very neutral flying plane. I was very impressed with it. Rich F ordered the 42 % about two weeks before I did. I am looking forward to flying his.

As mentioned the TBM will be monokoted, and be of soft wood. That's why it is so light. The CA will be harder to repair.

I have heard that the TOC boys prefer the Von Extra over the CA, but since Troy Built will not sponsor people they do not fly them. Each one is hand built in a jig, and they don't plan on having kits because the time and money it would take you to built their jig would cost as much as the kit.

Rob