Critical sharpness is a tripod's raison d'être. So, does your caution apply to other models? I'm short and usually photograph where the land is flat, so I was considering the shorter (by 6") Feisol 3441S w/ RAL. Perhaps the height difference would improve stability.
Mass, rigidity, damping, and low center of gravity are all good things on a tripod.
Legs if they are tubular, are much more rigid if they have larger diameters.
Carbon fiber usually is better damped than aluminum and much better than steel.
I guess one of my beefs with the fiesol is the relatively small diameter of its plate to which the legs attach. and the relatively small diameter of its legs. Although it is fairly ridgid to compressive forces, it tends to ring (side to side) torsionally when perturbed by wind. I love its case and it is very compact, but just not the right combination of features for me.
Of course something shorter might be better but nothing replaces beefiness.
One more thing, ANY tripod is better than none at all, so you have several dimensions of tradeoffs to deal with. My main spec was that it fit in a standard 24 inch suitcase. Others have mentioned carry-on airline possibilities. I have been blocked twice from carrying-on tripods, once at JFK and once in Brussels. I therefore always pack my legs.
-bob