Really Right Stuff BH-55 Ballhead Review

Long-time readers of this site, and also subscribers to The Video Journal, know that I believe that accessories such as ballheads can be as critical to successful field work as the finest cameras or lenses. Maybe even more so, because these are the foundation devices that can make or break a location shoot. Two of the most important devices that photographers need are a first-rate tripod, along with a versatile ball-head and quick mounting plate system. My choice in tripods is the Gitzo Carbon Fibre models, and for the past 9 years I've primarily used an Arca Swiss B1 ballhead.
The B1, as everyone calls it, has long been the most popular pro-grade ballhead on the market. It's expensive, but it is rugged, and handles heavy cameras and lenses with ease. It has its foibles (such as a tendency to lock up unexpectedly, usually at the most awkward times), but in almost a decade of regular use, from Arctic to the desert, to tropical jungles, it's never let me down.
Now there's a challenger ...