There's a factor you may be overlooking as your original post said "other than weather." Well we can't exclude weather. In upper helms you have two choices-either an open bridge or hard top and enclosed bridge, whether walls or canvas enclosure. Completely open brings the weather into play and isn't very good for bad weather conditions or even moderate cold. That is what chases us inside. Or if you got the enclosed route, there are issues. First, full enclosure is a bit contrary to the openness and pleasure of a bridge. However, the bigger issue is air draft. For coastal cruising not an issue although does mean waiting for some bridge openings. If a Loop is in your plans then it becomes a major issue as 19'1" is the limit. Some hard tops clear and some don't. Even for those that do, they often put electronics on the top and they won't clear.
Erie Canal in May would be a great example. It was too cold to enjoy an open bridge. Yet, air draft is a big issue in the 20-22' range depending on water levels. We do have a hard top with full enclosure. However, we couldn't do it with the standard hard top and most would not want to go through what we did which required a custom hard top and enclosure and a major modification to the arch and mast so the electronics and mast could be lowered. 19'1" becomes a big challenge on a hard top fly bridge boat.
How can you not love the thoroughness of a BandB reply?
No loop in the picture for us. I live in the midwest, have traveled to all the regions the loop covers, boated the length of the Ohio from Pittsburgh to Louisville and back. Spent enough time on Lake Erie and Put-in-Bay as a kid, and Lake *ichigan as an adult. I'm sure it's a great trip or there wouldn't be so many loopers. Me, I've seen enough riverbanks.
As you know BandB, but others don't, we are leaning towards leaving sw florida for the much more active fort lauderdale area. Our trips will consist entirely of warmer weather whether it's running up the east coast in the summer or over to the Bahamas when the winds are with the Gulfstream or down to the Keys.
That's why I said weather is an obvious factor so dismiss it. I wanted to hear from boaters in all regions versus just south and sw florida boaters. PNW boaters...NE boaters... all need the lower helm or enclosed FB if they want to extend their seasons. If the occasional forward isinglass has to go up to offset a cold chill in the morning, so be it.
Besides, at the helm wearing a cozy sweatshirt on a chilly morning, fresh-brewed coffee in hand, baitballs busting the surface all around, slow cruising at 8kts while the sun climbs above the horizon... that's all good! Of course, I'm talking south florida chilly. Like low 60's. For those colder mornings... we'll wait. No hurries.
Besides aging, which Codger allayed my fears about, my only other concern with a FB is pitch and roll. I confess, I am Capt. Queasy. Pitch not so much, but roll... holy moly nothing ruins a day on the water like motion-sickness. So I prefer to quarter beam seas even though it makes a trip significantly longer. And, generous amounts of Bonine the night before and ginger day of. The wristbands...meh!