Yeah, I've tried everest, and Malavia too and had no real complaints. I honestly think It just has more to do with what Your personal preferences are and what You are used to playing with.
Some do hold their shape better then others though, so that would be a preference of mine, I don't use tip scuffers or shapers, just a tippik for holding chalk, so that would be an important to Me. I don't mind trimming once after break in, but any more then that turns Me off to a tip. If You press them ahead of time though, then You change the hardness level, so I like them to hold shape instead of changing the characteristics that make any given brand unique. I do press some tips on occasion, because some play better that way also, but some I like to keep the original hardness level intact, and don't want to give that up trying to get a tip to hold shape.
Some do hold their shape better then others though, so that would be a preference of mine, I don't use tip scuffers or shapers, just a tippik for holding chalk, so that would be an important to Me. I don't mind trimming once after break in, but any more then that turns Me off to a tip. If You press them ahead of time though, then You change the hardness level, so I like them to hold shape instead of changing the characteristics that make any given brand unique. I do press some tips on occasion, because some play better that way also, but some I like to keep the original hardness level intact, and don't want to give that up trying to get a tip to hold shape.