I really enjoy Alpha Gut 2000. I find it mid range in terms of stiffness. It is not as stiff as LF Supreme or even Tournafiber Irradiated, but it is stiffer than NXT and some of the Technifibre multis. As for tension it is average. Does drop some, like most multis, but it isn't unreasonable. The pearlized coating adds some durability, BUT tends to allow the strings to move around a bit. Perhaps it is string movement that the detractors are not liking. This is a great string to use in hybrids with both natural gut and poly...it also stands on it's own pretty well.