I just had a shop visit this week. Played a few guitars, Authentics among them. It's hard to wrap my head around $7000 guitars when the plain D 18 is less than $3k. It is even more remarkable when I get home a play my Guild D 35. I guess I'm so used to it. I did quite like the Rich Robinson D 18. Very straight braced tone, but even more than the Authentic. I played a D 35 that was so boomy I put it down right away. Guy comes up and loves it. Different strokes.
For how I play, overtones get in the way. My D 35 Custom gets tolerated because it has less than most rosewood dreads. I can't tell you how many times I've been playing a , to me, perfect D 18 and someone will make a derogatory comment. Straight bracing is so out of fashion. I realize while I enjoy my Guild D 35 just how many would dislike it. Just as the Martin D 35 owner would hate my Custom.
I just know I'd probably like a modern D 40T.