I have been using moleskine notebooks for a few years.  Up until now, I have used the hard cover.  THis time around I decided to try this soft cover and I have found that I like it a lot more.  For me, it also feels better in the hand, is easier to carry around (I like the texture of the soft cover), and is thinner (partly because there are fewer pages in the journal).  The advantage of the hard cover is that it stays open flatter, it provides a hard surface for writing no mater where you are, and it offers more pages.  Both are great products, but the soft cover suits me just a little better. As for other aspects, the paper's thickness is fine (just don't use a very heavy pen), and the grid lines are a good darkness. The paper color is easy on the eyes and the writing surface is a pleasure.  The added book mark and the strap to keep the cover closed make this a great book for professionals and journal writers.  I would expect that the version with blank pages would be perfect for people who like to sketch.  A consistently good product!