A Windows Decision

The windows decision has caused a lot of heartache but we have finally made the decision to go with the Hurd aluminum clad, double hung, tilt sash windows.
Have you ever heard of Hurd? We hadn't. But from the get go we were impressed with the window.
http://www.hurd.com/aluminum-clad-windows-patio-doors
What we (I) were not impressed with was the price. These windows are a significant chunk of our budget. We've made many modifications to assist with the pricing. Such as changing the grills (muttin) pattern. Removing the grills entirely (in all but the front elevation). Changing several to single hung. Removing one window entirely from the plan.
Here is a picture of what I expect the windows in the front to look like (with the 3W2H pattern, and no grills on bottom)
 

We also looked at:
Anderson 400 series
Kolbe traditional
Plygem premium series
Marvin Integrity (ultrex)

Here's the funny thing, it was only upon seeing the Kolbe sample that we realized we have tilt sash windows in our current home...that we have lived in for 10 years! That is because the mechanism for folding the window out is not on the wood frame (where the locking mechanism is) but rather within the interior molding which is flexible and you smoosh it in to pull the window out. Not sure how else to explain it. If you have these kinds of windows you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Or maybe you won't, since we didn't! Needless to say, our current home windows are now very clean!