RE: Shorter ATA Bows?
Sounds likeyou are having some fun, and learning in the process. That's good. One thing not often mentioned, and I forget it myself, is that you can NEVER take for granted that the drawlength as stated on the limb tag of any bow is right. Most bows will draw longer than they are marked. You have to physically measure the bow in your hand to see what it is. That may be a big reason that brand A bow at 29" feels just like brand B marked 28".
And from a personal standpoint "Darton is certainly an overlooked company". There are lots of bowmakers besides Mathews, Hoyt, and Bowtech.