Don.d

For me (and I really can't talk for anyone else) his earlier bikes
had more appeal. Were they significantly better than say De Rosa? nope
for the most part they were pretty much the same (have I contradicted
myself more than twice now?). I think the big difference was that Ernesto
was much better at marketing his marque than the others. Given the
association with the pro peloton and it was more akin to Trek/Lance
than true innovation (back "in the day"). For me a Pogliaghi has more
cache, but again thats personal preferrence.
I don't think that being different has anything to do with cache, its more
the ride, not the brazing, not the file marks.
Given that Ernesto probably spec'd tubulars I'd say he didn't talc. . .
and thats as far as I'm going on that one.

Marty