>>>so before the war starts, let me say that that's what I found - that it is much more effective for me to use a chromatic harp in those situations, and for playing jazz in general<<<
It seems that Toots Thielemans, Larry Adler and Stevie Wonder agree with you on that point!
Larry C
Sorry, but I don't think they have even tried to play diatonic harmonica chromatically, so I am sure they never had to make such a decision, thus, not being able to agree or disagree...
Sincerely, Fernando Bresslau