Bespoke kilt advice?

[Jimmy the Celt]

I believe am ready to get a bespoke wool kilt but cannot decide exactly what I want. Living in North Texas it gets bloody hot in the summer and sometimes down into single digit temps in winter; quite a gap in extremes. However, most of my time is spent indoors. I have concluded that I would rather have three or four nice tanks rather than a closet full of inexpensive kilts. I would like an 8 yard model and am hoping that a 13 oz. wool would be a good compromise for year-round wear, though I have not ruled out a 5-yard model.

Presently, I am considering USA Kilts and the Scottish Trading Company. Is it worth spending the extra money for a non-top-stitched kilt? USAK has terrific prices on wool kilts in the Celtic Nations tartan (top-stitched); that might be a good way to go for my first wool kilt, but I have other tartans in mind (Boyd, Irvine, Ayrshire Ancient, saffron and others). Or maybe I should get a nice tweed? But I am not asking for help choosing tartans . . .

For $475 US I can get an 8 yard, 13 oz. kilt from Scottish Trading Company. That is mighty tempting.

Please note, I am not a rich man; I am a poor man who kens the value of clothing made well. I have done a good bit of reading and feel moderately well informed, but this is a major investment for me.

Edited to add: My weight changes between 175 and 185. It worries me a bit that I might get the wrong size!

Jimmy