I have two Horton Compound style cross bows and have had the one for fifteen years or so. I too used to think the recurve design was inferior. But after being in here for a couple of years and learning about the Excal's I was only upset that I found this site one year late or I would not have spent the money I did on the second Horton. Excal holds lots of records in the books for a reason. For your dad to say what he did about Excal only means he is not educated on them. He is probably thinking of the Other CB makers recurves and they all have them, but they are there bottom line CB's. Excal only makes recurves and they make them better then anyone. You let your boyfriend put arrows with that CB in a 2" group at fifty yards, If he is not happy you keep the CB and find the next man that is!