Vote away
The Progress has a smaller-profile top cap, so it wins for me.
Plus, the Variant’s handle is far too long and gets in the way. The short handled Progress is about right in terms of handle length.
If you prefer a long handled razor, then the Variant is a good choice. But you may want to consider a Merkur top cap to make it more manouverable.
I have seen that picture before and the knob is iconic so I have no problem with it. I expect it may shatter on a bad fall but no mishaps to date.Ever wonder where the design of the Merkur Progress ivory adjuster knob comes from?