Too many pages to read through but saw this topic and wanted to give my input. Working at a kiteboarding shop that sells North, I get people that come into the shop all the time and want to tech out about North's best selling kite, the Rebel which flies on 5 lines. I start to tell them about the kite and they get all weary of the 5th line and inverting the kite/getting it wrapped around the kite. First of all, if you are past the beginner stage of learning to kiteboard, you shouldn't really be crashing the kite and riding through the lines or at the kite, (ever once in a blue moon i guess.) Ok, so I ask them what happens when you invert your kite on a 4 line bar, they normally respond that they eject the quick release, self rescue, and swim in... Well what is the difference with a 5 line if you do the same thing with a 4?? Also, 4 or 5 lines, you can let the quick release out and sometimes, if you're lucky
, the kite will spin around and untangle the lines and you're good to go!
The 5th element Trust Bar by North paired with the Loaded 5 line North Rebel is in my opinion, (and many others), by far the safest kite out there!
Those are my 2 cents!
Good luck making your decision on a new kite!
Cheers,
Danny