Red is my best seller. I switched to the HOG tech fins this past spring/summer from my Hollis F-1's. That took some doing as I have been diving them (the F-1's) since before they were actually released to the public as a consumer tester. Still have those prototypes. And I dive the red Tech fins. The kids at the pool in my snorkeling classes think they are the shizzle.
That said, for me, if I had to do any open ocean or strong current dives I'd take the F-1's over the Tech fins.
You have to look at what the tech fins were made for. Tech diving. Confined spaces as in wrecks and caves. They were not designed for high current applications although you can certainly use them for that and they will do the job. You'll just work harder than I like to.
Where they shine, IMO, is where they were designed to go. In those areas they are phenomenal! I taught a wreck class in them last season and during some of the penetrations we did in areas that I have been in many times with the F-1's the spaces felt bigger. I know they were not but the reduced length and response of the Tech fin made it feel like they were. No one fin is right for every application. I am looking into a set of free diving fins just to have and use on those occasions where they will be called for. When I'm snorkeling or free diving.
My GF has one pair of fins and for her they work for all the diving she does. I tried that but too many variables in my diving guided my fin choices and each has a place where they fit best. Tech dives the Tech fins. Open ocean or high current non overhead the F-1's. Non scuba snorkeling and free diving will be a set of MAKO competition free diver fins just because I like the style and don't want to spend a fortune on fins that will see occasional use.
