"Cleanup isn't exactly fun either, but still beats silicone IMO..."
Haha, you're not kidding about cleanup. Last fall, I switched to polyurethane for a job on an older house—temps were dropping fast, and silicone just wasn't cutting it. Polyurethane saved the day, but man, my hands were a mess afterward. Still, the flexibility and durability were worth it. Curious though, anyone tried hybrid sealants? Heard they're supposed to combine the best of both worlds, but haven't given them a shot yet...
I've used hybrids a couple times, and they're pretty decent. Easier cleanup than poly for sure, and way less fussy than silicone. Durability seems solid too—no cracking or shrinking yet after two winters. Worth trying if you're tired of messy hands...
I switched over to hybrids myself about three years ago after years of fighting with silicone. I remember one particular job—middle of winter, freezing temps, and silicone just would not cooperate. It was either too thick or wouldn't adhere properly. Ended up spending way more time cleaning up than sealing the windows themselves. Definitely one of those "lesson learned" days...
Since then, hybrids have been my go-to. Like you said, they're easier to handle and cleanup is a breeze in comparison. I was skeptical at first about their durability, especially in harsher climates, but so far they've held up impressively well. Had a client call me back recently for another project and got a chance to see the windows I'd sealed two years prior—still looked great, no shrinkage or cracks.
I still occasionally use silicone in certain applications where a bit more flexibility is needed, but overall, hybrids have really simplified my workflow. Glad they're working out for you too.