Exactly as I'd hoped, I'm learning a great deal from the experiences of others.
I may have to add the Metzlers to my shortlist.
Oh, and Stig... Dear friend, I absolutely had to have a bigger scoot, not a smaller one. Your suggestion, while spot on, actually defeats the purpose. <snicker>
Tire wear is a fairly significant maintenance issue and is most definitively a safety issue as well. I've seen the photo-threads with cracking OEMs, with tread problems, with the tar snake dance issues, and others, and given that it's my only contact with the driving surface, I would want one that I have some confidence in, as well as not having to replace every couple of months or so.
On a semi-related note, I'm just over 500 miles since delivery, and approaching that magical 600mi initial service, and am just about halfway to being done with the break-in! Yay!