I would stay away from the 224 10″. They don’t cut all the way through the ice I believe due to the blade pitch. The tried and true Stikemaster Laser Mag or the Jiffy Stealth will treat you well.

I once was in the same boat as you…asking myself what could be so much different in a St. Croix to justify me spending the extra $$ on it. Well a number of St. Croixs later I can still remember landing my first fish on a St. Croix. You’ll know it when you feel it.