I've got the Berkeley. I don't really care for the look of Simpson brushes, and of the lot I like the lines of this one the most. There is NO splay to this thing, but I have no complaints about the softness of the Best tips. Face-lathering brush for sure. It fits into the Simpson travel tube, and has a bigger handle and knot than the Case (which I think is what is supposed to go in the travel tube).
I owned it for less than one day and sold it... I think I was rather quick to do so and now think I may have been a bit jumping the gun... I might revisit it someday as a purchase down the road...its a good value for sure and the build quality is excellent... Heck, I bought a Merkur HD for the third time ever today...sold twice before...(come to think of it Ive done that with MULTIPLE items)
They look to be very comparable. I don't think you could wrong either way; however, if you see yourself getting a Duke in the future, then I would opt for the Special because it has a different handle.