Both companies are good reputable bow producers. I have worked in bow shops for the last 15 years and I would agree with the advice others have offered. Don't get stuck on a name brand, draw and shoot some options for bows and buy what feels comfortable to you. IBO ratings are so each company has to compare apples to apples. The bows have to be shot at 70 pounds, 30 inch draw length and a 350 grain arrow. Unfortunately most people do not shoot this long of a draw length or light of an arrow so they experience a significant less arrow speed. Also, anything added to the string for accesories will also slow down the bow. As far as the zip ties go, if they do not have a place for you to shoot then they are afraid of a dry fire. At the shop I work at now, we have had 2 bows blow apart this fall by customers who claimed they were experienced archer and ended up dry firing the bows. Different bows have different draw cycles and some might not be prepared for it and string slips out of fingers and results in bow hanging in pieces and possibly an injured customer that now wants to sue you for their mistake.