Top line gear from name brand manufacturers- they all test out pretty well in magazines... surprise! They also work very well in real life- that's the business that they are in, making SCUBA gear.
To a great extent, the minute differences in a BC are just that. It may take years of diving before you could walk up to any two BC's and understand how the differences in them would affect you. It's really a matter of where they put this control or that fastener... and in this case: where they put the buoyancy bladders.
I have a Stiletto (and 4 other BC's). I got the Stiletto because it packs down very minimal space and I needed that specific application. I have two BPW set ups as well, one sans back plate. I also have a standard Jacket BC like they gave you in the pool sessions.
The Stiletto closely mirrors the BPW in that all of the inflation buoyancy is rear of your center line. I prefer that set up when I am underwater. However I do prefer the standard stab jacket BC when I am wanting to float (face up and high) on the surface which is something that is not generally a good idea, anyway.
There is no set answer on this, but you will get a lot of negative votes on anything short of BPW. This is because they are generally black in color and when you use them, well, chicks dig it.
As long as the BC can be adjusted to your body, you're good to go. Can you test-dive one? If not, always try it on and sit in the shop with a reg set and tank- then work the BC controls while sitting there on the carpet. You can learn a lot that way.
High end regs- they're all about the same except in extreme conditions (ice diving, etc).
