An update on the 78s:
A few observations:
Short version: I think these are likely to be a favorite spring slush ski, right up there with FIS SL skis. Man, were they fun, and versatile.
For me, this ski is dialed in at the mount point (inverted dimple) without plates, in spring conditions too.
Long version: I took them out today, Saturday, on an "old snow" spring day at Beaver Creek, first chair. (Beaver Creek "last day" is tomorrow.)
We did re-frozen, stiff groomers first thing, both steep and normal (so much fun); then groomer and other slopes that were cream cheese (the best); then groomer and other slopes that were slush - including half a run through heavy, settled slush powder about half a foot deep - yikes. The skis did famously on everything but the 6" of heavy, settled slush powder glue (though the wax at least, worked).
This ski is now my favorite "old snow" ski of the year and of my quiver (with the original Black Ops 118/185s @ +1 my favorite soft snow skis, good for anything 2-3" and greater).
I can't remember a season when my "favorites" - and "most often skied" skis - resolved themselves down to possibly so few skis, and so certainly. Throw in a longer ski for really deep (the K2 Pettitors 190) and one or two for bumps, off piste, etc (Kastle LX 92s, for soft bumps; and/or '20 170 Brahmas (downsized), for both soft and "old snow" bumps), and I wouldn't really need the rest of my quiver (hah!): what a development!
It was well after one pm, that the frozen off-piste bumps got soft enough to ski, if ever that day, with clouds coming in by then; so when I quit after one, I did not get to try these skis in those conditions. Maybe next time. (I'm still not optimistic.)
In cream cheese and slush, with a good wax, there was still more drag than under normal packed powder conditions. Driving the tips and working the flex, with that extra resistance, it felt like I would be able to overpower the skis, potentially, if I had wanted to. Since the ski is so balanced and stable when flexing, I could easily go right up to that overpowering point without crossing over - a fun sensation/control. (I never did actually cross over that.)
But this made me realize somehow that I was able to maximize the flex/carve while mounted on the recommended line (inverted dimple) without needing the elevation of race plates, seemingly, at least under typical spring conditions. Said another way, IF I had had the extra leverage/elevation/authority from plates and a more race ski binding, I might have preferred, optimally, to have moved the mount point back a bit to keep from overpowering the ski too easily in spring conditions. It just felt that way. (However, not totally sure of this unless I try such a setup, which I may still do with the second pair I bought just under the wire, before the ski was removed from online sale, at least temporarily, on at least the website).
Conclusion: if you have at least some racing background however modest, and are used to race skis, or getting there, then the Crosson Dissenter 78 might work for you too in springtime.