[Java Junky]

Steve;
I'm afraid not all of the experts are experts. Some are more sales oriented than knowledge oriented.
As for the Kumho Ecsta's you mention, they've gotten some good ink from some of our more aggressive brethren, but, now it's me that's passin' on second hand info. But, before you write 'em off, I'd get some info from folks that've used 'em (realizin' that what you're gettin' is again, second hand info that might not match the way you'd rate them).
And as for mixin' n' matchin' . . I say this with extreme concern for proper caution n' testin' of the resultin' possibilities, but mixin' n' matchin' doesn't always result in dire, flamin', you'll-never-be-able-to-have-kids consequences . . BUT, it just as easily could.
With the application of that extreme caution n' gradual, closer n' closer to the edge testin', there is the possibility that you could find a marriage of brands/models that would work n' possibly work well.
But most of us don't have the time, the money, or the safe testing area to do that kind'a mix n' match. N' like mixin' breeds, the odds are that you're gonna wind up with the worst of both, not the best.
But, that's where a company that specializes in tires can do the leg work for us, as it's their bread-n'-butter, and foot the bill for testing of different tires in different conditions.
Pick a place that has a good reputation for bein' on the money with the info that they're feedin' you.
As I can no longer research tires as well as I used to, I find a reliable "consultant" n' if that consultant jus' happens to work for a firm that's prices are a little higher (everything's priorities), I figure that the peace of mind in knowin' my info's accurate is worth it.
Good luck, n' like the old knight said . . .