I'm a newbie to the sport, thus not much knowledge and need ya'll to assist...
i have a 12m co2, used it once, had lessons with I.Y and he uses flysurfers (foils). They seem to be soooo much simpler to use than the inflatable i.e. relaunch and more stable. But if they were so crash hot, why would everyone not be usin them? majority of kiters are usin inflatables...this is tellim me something, but i'm not convinced yet...
The age old debate shows up again! Did you enjoy flying the Flysurfers? I have 2 of the new Flysurfer Speed's, I'm having so much fun with em. I moved from LEI mainly because I was flying solo in remote areas and had trouble with solo launching and landing. Was never great or anything but since getting Speed 10 I've come really far, having a blast. Haven't walked upwind since! The only downsides I find are seaweed tangling in the bridles, hasn't got the full depower of bow kites, and price. Well treated I think they should last longer than LEI's. Safety and relaunch are awesome as you have seen. The reason not everyone is flying them is mainly that the performance has only recently caught up with LEI's and lots of guys still have a bad taste from the foils they flew or saw in 2000, which were slow or difficult to relaunch. It's your call, fly what you enjoy.
All kites since 05 are good (Well there are some bad ones, e.g. China kites, "the infamous hyped winebag", etc)
You will not go wrong with a Co2. I have the same kite, and really love it... and I have been kiting for years. Bet if you stood next to knowledgable guy flying a CO2, you would think it is simple too.
Only downside is the recon on Co2 is not as effective as fith line, but works well enough.
Go the Flysurfers they rock - easy launch, land, re-launch, packup, killa upwind and ya can use m as a mattress to sunbake on while ya waitin for the good ol seabreeze or usem as a workbench with enough rope for a bit of bondage what more could ya want
or usem as a workbench with enough rope for a bit of bondage what more could ya want 
and their are so much
