Let me chime in here.
When I made Marc the offer to make the AB line of hats, he wanted to take it to the next level. He did not just want to offer the same AB that I was making. He wanted to make the finest hat that money could buy, and set out to source custom items, like the sweatbands, and felt. So, he has his sweats custom made, and this cost him an arm and leg. He also went to Portugal for his felt, and has that custom made as well, to a specific thickness, out of pure beaver. Basically we approached the Indy hat with ulterior motives in mind. His was to outdo a particular unnamed hatter, in materials(this is my own opinion) and mine has always been to make a pure beaver hat affordable to the average Joe. I was tired of the high prices for beaver hats that was using the same American made felt as mine. So, we covered both bases. Marc uses the best materials he can find in Europe and I use the best that I can find in America. Both hats will outlast the other offerings. With that said, if you could find a hat like Marc's over here, it would set you back over a thousand dollars, if they used what he is using. If you bought one of mine from another hatter, you would pay 500 to 600 dollars for the same hat, (but no one has our Raiders block shape). We figured we could cover both bases and two markets. If I had the money an AB Deluxe costs, I would buy it due to the custom, one of a kind hat you are getting. If I could not afford the price, I would get one of my regular ABs. Either way you go, you are getting much for the money.
I do not ever plan on changing up what I am offering, because my main motive is the price and bringing pure beaver down to a price most working guys can afford. Plus, I am happy with what I am using. And, I am an old guy who wants to keep my hats American made, using American made materials. I had to bite the bullet when Marc sourced that original Hj ribbon, but that is one area that I did not mind doing, although I have to pay 20 times more in price for this stuff.
Both hats are pure beaver, and Marc's is truly a Deluxe model. He ain't kidding with his description. He redesigned the crest on the liner, giveing it more color and in keeping with the Deluxe motiff. We both went with a bit darker color than what we thought the original was, because we are both aware of the fading that will occur over time. Since these are not disposable hats, we did not want them to get washed out over time to be inaccurate. We do several things in the making of them to insure they can be reblocked safely as we figure they will outlast many of the owners.
I have seen one of Marc's hats, in hand, and I can tell you, honestly, that a better hat cannot not bought, anywhere, and no hatter has gone to the lengths Marc has gone to. He was wanting to make the highest quality Indy fedora in the world, and he did it. I was wanting to make the most affordable pure beaver Raiders fedora in the world, and I did it. The only question left is how much can you spend? Both are bargains, and as far as I am concerned, no other hatter is as accurate in looks. Plus, you actually are buying a real hat in the process instead of a facsimile. But, I am predjudiced.
Now, all I have to do is to trade Marc something for one of his Deluxes.
I want one of those one of a kind hats myself and I know I could never afford to pay what his hat is actually worth. Heck, I can't afford to pay what one of mine is worth!!
Fedora
When I made Marc the offer to make the AB line of hats, he wanted to take it to the next level. He did not just want to offer the same AB that I was making. He wanted to make the finest hat that money could buy, and set out to source custom items, like the sweatbands, and felt. So, he has his sweats custom made, and this cost him an arm and leg. He also went to Portugal for his felt, and has that custom made as well, to a specific thickness, out of pure beaver. Basically we approached the Indy hat with ulterior motives in mind. His was to outdo a particular unnamed hatter, in materials(this is my own opinion) and mine has always been to make a pure beaver hat affordable to the average Joe. I was tired of the high prices for beaver hats that was using the same American made felt as mine. So, we covered both bases. Marc uses the best materials he can find in Europe and I use the best that I can find in America. Both hats will outlast the other offerings. With that said, if you could find a hat like Marc's over here, it would set you back over a thousand dollars, if they used what he is using. If you bought one of mine from another hatter, you would pay 500 to 600 dollars for the same hat, (but no one has our Raiders block shape). We figured we could cover both bases and two markets. If I had the money an AB Deluxe costs, I would buy it due to the custom, one of a kind hat you are getting. If I could not afford the price, I would get one of my regular ABs. Either way you go, you are getting much for the money. 
It isn't done yet though, but I don't want to rush, as I have come to learn, that good things take their time.
..please tell me it's Euros