Help deciding between a really good 5 yd, 8 yd, and great kilt from USA kilts

[imrichmond]

You'll get lots of general advice, but for perspective, today a true great kilt is worn only by pipe majors, re-enactors, or as a costume.

Just to correct an obvious misconception here: pipe majors do not wear great kilts. In 60 years of piping, both solo and in bands at all levels (and having been pipe major of four different bands over the years including my current one), the only pipe majors I have ever seen wearing anything approaching a great kilt are those who play in historical re-enactor pipe bands, such as The Old 78th Fraser Highlanders band (not either of the top-level competition bands from Ontario and Nova Scotia who also share the names "78th Fraser Highlanders" and "78th Highlanders"). In whatever pipe band, military or civilian, re-enactor or not, the pipe major wears the same type of kilt as all the other pipers. In many military bands and some civilian bands, the pipers wear No 1 or "full" dress, which has a long plaid that crosses the back and the chest and hangs down over the left shoulder and arm. This is a separate garment and not part of the kilt.