Stiff or Soft?

Boots that is.....
Anyway,,,,,,,,

My Lange XR 7.5's are close to the end of their life and I have been looking
for replacements, reading all the reviews of the new boos, etc... but I am
not having much luck deciding which way to go, soft or stiff? Everything
that I have read so far is split on the subject. I am getting older now, 43
and I am not replacing my skis this year but I will be demoing alot. I
currenly am on Volkl Carver XT's 184's, still plenty of life left in em. So
what do you good and not so good people think? Pro's and con's on the
subject.... I have been told that the Lange 100 is close in flex to the 7.5
and last year I tried on the Banshee 110's and they felt like old well used
rear entry rental boots when I flexed them in the shop so I passed on them
bescuse I thought they were way to soft. Or have I fallen so behind in the
times that everything is going to feel real soft to me, due to new
technology. BTW I am mainly an East Coast Skier have no fear of ice, just a
fear of losing the responsiveness and snow/ice feel I have with my current
set up.

Thanks.