Yeah hairlessbill, I would imagine the Kremlin would let you spread the same load further across your back. Similarly, I went out and found stores carrying Chrome packs today to try some on. Holy cow, i put my entire backpack inside a Chrome Backbone (largest backpack not rolltop). My bag was stuffed and it fit inside the backbone no problem, AND rode extremely comfortably.

I know what you mean about stacking stuff in backpacks. The Chrome and Crumpler backpacks I've looked at still are much taller than they are wide, but then the bags are just plain massive anyways.

I'm not too worried about my back--I mean my gear really does tend to be much more bulky than heavy. I can see myself getting a Chrome Backbone. Sultans and Ivans (Rolltops) are nice and give that extra-waterproof feeling, but the pockets in the non-rolltops are nicer (a few more of them, more suited to what I need). I can see any of these bags being great for grocery shopping and weekends out of town too.

Crumpler's largest bag is, I think, smaller than Chrome's largest, a good deal cheaper, but not waterproof. The difference in cost though definitely might justify picking up a Crumpler and keeping trash bags in the pockets.

I checked out Ortlieb and Sealline bags as markhr suggested but they have few or no pockets... I can see them being nice for actual messengers but alas I am just a poser, and still need the organizational use.