I finally had a chance to compare Obsession and xVarial, both as 9m kites. I did like both kites quite a bit. I would say that obsession has quicker, tighter loop but not as powerful as varial. They are bot great kites, boosting os fun on both them. For my specific needs (hangtime, excellent jumping and little bit of waves and unhook) the Varial wins. It was the hangtime what sold me on that kite.

8m Varial X on demo - I have Airush Razors they are the first C kites I've had. They are superb and since then I have disliked bridled kites for feeling wooly and vague; however the VX is a very direct bridled kite and the precision and control it offers even when fully lit and depowered is excellent. If you really want C kite feel with the depower and relaunch of a hybrid then this is the closest thing to it. Next year I will still be on Razors but I'm getting a 6m VX for the storms

I too am a real Varial X fan.
Whilst I appreciate the Razor for the purist side of the sport I do think the Varial gives me near razor performance but with the added bonus of extreme depower and most importantly direct steering on reasonably high levels of depower for waveriding. In the strong onshore gusty winds of Medano (canary islands) my riding came on leaps and bounds this winter, specifically because of this kite.
I would not have thought that a freestyle-esque kite would be so good in the surf, but when the wind picks up there is nothing like it. Huge power range, supremely direct and I never need to look at the thing.