I've often been frustrated with the AGC as well. I think mostly what has happened in the CI industry is that they were first there for those that had never heard and programming them was more about getting some environmental sounds and speech. Along the way, post-lingual users were CI recipients but the philosophy behind programming them has not changed and many audis are still ok with the focus on getting speech but not really sound quality. We need to move ahead to quality now.
I'm doing a research study this week as well. I find them fascinating. It's several different tests through the week but yesterday was mostly set with getting M levels (C and T levels) set to the maximum comfort levels for the purposes of the tests. These were set in their computer, not my processors. We found that I can max out the thresholds in my left ear and still not be uncomfortable with the sound. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing
. It also explains why my audis have stopped M levels before I have gotten to a point where the sound level is comfortable. I'm at about 1270 Clinical Units on electrodes 2-15 and hit over 1300 on 16 before the sounds just leveled off and didn't get any louder even. Not sure why that happens.
I also did some pitch perception testing. I knew that my pitches were off between my ears, pretty obvious. Today they will create some maps for me to balance out those sounds. I am very interested in seeing how that works!! There were a couple sounds I just could not get match at all. It was a lot harder than I anticipated that is for sure!
As for the one company being better than another, sure, they all do R and D, but some of the technology is just more advanced from one company to another. You had to create your own speech in noise program, for example. AB has had that program out for all users for 2+ years now. The electrode strategies between the companies make a huge difference as well. All of the companies are fine for someone that has never heard or has had very little hearing for most of their life. Cochlear, however, is just not as good for those of us that were late deafened and know what things are supposed to sound like.
Your 3rd program sounds similar to one I use in the car, lower sensitivity mainly to block out background noise.
I have a wind program that I "created" in my 5th slot--it just uses the processor mics which are hidden behind my ears so it blocks the wind noise. I love that program when I'm out walking or whatever. It's not as good picking up cars coming behind me as my every day program, but it's good enough. I can still understand anyone I'm walking with just fine.
