I've been on a strat search for a few years. I had a new '91 strat plus that I used for years before it was stolen. I got a USA '62 RI fiesta red strat in '98 and it's good but still not something I'd play all the time. I went through a couple '70's vintage strats and boutique ones (Anderson, Suhr) and even to the Mexi Road Worn series and still didn't find what I wanted. I got a custom shop strat last year thinking that was it but never bonded with that one either. I recently picked up an Xotic '50's look relic strat with a figured roasted maple neck and I am just in love. I cant' stop playing it. The pickups sounded great but I put some Duncan Antiquity Texas Hot pups in it and an Ilitch backplate and I am no longer looking at strats. If you can get your hands on one to try, I'd highly recommend it. The neck is big but not too big, just nice fat tone, even from a maple board, which is odd because my hands are usually a little bright. The body feels totally naturally broken in and the finish is thin and resonant.
Awesome, thanks for the information Mike!!!