Let me qualify myself here.... I'm not a crossbow hunter... but I'm an archery tech by profession in a state that allows crossbows.... so I'm pretty familiar and have shot just about all of them and taken them apart and messed with them and what not.

I think your review is pretty spot on Wyvern.... I noticed the same issue with the pulleys rolling/sliding due to the acuteness of the angle... you definately have to pull back and up... not just up. Our shooting is done is what might as well be a cave.... and everything is loud in there... this bow sounded about normal to me.... not super loud... not overwhelmingly quiet for what it is.

Feel wise... I am pretty tall... and it came to the shoulder like a bird gun compared to other models (and it looks like a Mossberg 500 to me anyway). Its balanced exceptionally well.

I actually like the packaging that they are sending, because I can take it and put all of it directly in the cardboard recycling pile. Those huge blocks of polystyrene have always been a gripe of mine... I'm rather of the opinion that any company that hinges itself on natural resources should have natural preservation in mind...if McDonalds can use cardboard containers on Big Macs... Parker can use cardboard insulation on crossbows.