Hi John - yes I remember talking about your 7x35's! I still think 7x35 is the most sensible magnification/objective size that an all-around binocular can have. Unfortunately, we don't live in a sensible world
Because the Leica 7x35 Trinvoid of the early 1980's was the one and only binocular I lusted after in my early 20's, I had great hopes for the 7x35 Retrovid when it was initially rumored 5 or 6 years ago. Pictures of rubber armored 7x35's were circulated. I assumed it would be waterproof, armored, and have twist up eyecups. None of that transpired. I slowly evolved into accepting the leatherette covering, and even the lack of waterproofing. But the twist up eyecups have been a bridge too far for me. The two reasons I went away from the 8x32 BN to the 8x32 BR were the BN's lack of twist-up eyecups and its lack of objective covers. In the field I often found the eycups mashed down when I wanted to use the bin.
Again, these are minutiae nitpickings - who knows, I might see clear of them eventually and own a pair. But I've quit holding my breath for a 7x32 Ultravid. Pity more consumers can't see past magnification obsession.
How's the smoke in your valley? It was terrible here last week, but has cleared out a bit this weekend...