Flew the bandit on the weekend, it has a bit of bar pressure but not like a bow, feels a lot like a SLE when you pull on the bar, nice kite. The torch is a C with no bridles and a 5th line. The bar pressure is light and it turns on a dime with the sickest loops ever.The only problem is that you won't be flying one kite you need to rig the right size for the wind speed. They have awesome depower for a C and I'm a light guy and have never been dragged out to sea on a torch you can stop if over powered. Relaunching is easy, just pull on the 5th line, the kite will lift a wingtip and let go of the 5th line, the kite will launch. The torch is a awesome tool for freestyle, very direct response from the bar and just does what you want it to do with no on-off feel like SLE kites when you unhook them.
The only problem with the torch is that when you depower the kite on the strap more than halfway it becomes very slow(turning) but you need to rig the right size then. I only use the strap when launching and landing in strong winds otherwise I scoot like a rabid dog. hahaha.
It all depends on what you want to do and spend. I prefere not using depower cause of the performance loss but at the same time is spending a small fortune. The only way that you can be 100% sure is to go out and demo the kites and feel them for yourself and decide witch one you like the most...