[Fondueset]

Elios will help you find the best suit for your conditions. But it is a process of educating yourself and them. If you don't have the patience then just order whatever it is you think you want - all of their suits are excellent.

Heres what I have

My first suit was a 5 mil black shadow/open cell inside superstretch nylon out. It is extremely durable and I dove all winter the first year I had it (2c water temp) I still have it and use the bottoms combined with a 6 mil smooth skin green 'pelagos' camo top for winter diving. (this combination of smoothskin top and nylon out bottoms is very useful if you dive near rocks. I also have a couple of other suits - a smoothskin 5 mil blue pelagos camo and a 3 mil the same (long story). All are Heiwa neoprene because I have heard the yamamoto 45, while very comfortable, is fragile and does not last as long. Since you seem to want the yamamoto suit I would ask elios about its durability. It is also quite expensive.

Factors - where and what kind of diving will you do? Rocks? Reefs? Sharp mussels (I have these here)

Is it your first open cell suit? Getting in and out of an open cell suit requires a learning curve - you are much more likely to damage a suit that does not have nylon on the outside.

What do you want to spend? The most expensive suit is not necessarily the best for your purposes - and is not the sturdiest.

My dive buddy bought a 5 mil, nylon out suit with titanium coating over open cell - much cheaper than my 5 mil black shadow - he dives year round in it and it is extremely sturdy.

Unless you are diving competitively I do not think the relative smoothness of the outside of the suit makes any difference.