I do like the Sixes, but find the GP 100 a better gun for me. I have owned a GP of one flavor or another for the last 30 years.
The whole boat anchor thing cracks me up. My shooting buddy bought a 686 at the same time as me and we could never really tell the difference in weight between the two. This feeling carries right along to the whole I would never want to carry that all day long crowd. I wonder how many folks have really carry a gun all day? I do think the folks that throw a GP into a Bulldog Extreme nylon holster on the faux leather dress belt for the occasional hike around the apartment might be intimidated by the weight. I have hiked for days on end with my GP in a quality leather holster hung from an equally good leather belt and it is noticable but not overly so. I found that the longer I carry a handgun the less I notice it.
As for looks and balance, well that is in the eye of the beholder. Handguns are very personal items. How they fit the user is unique. I have a friend who beams with pride at his inverted barreled Rhino with grips that feel like a small tree trunk in my hand. That gun makes me want to vomit.
As for JC's comment about GP's not having a traditional look, I simply don't agree. It would very easy to cherry pick the Smith and Wesson catalog and come up with some "gems" as well. Smith and Wesson has built a whole subset in the industry with their "Gun Of Week" program they had going a few years ago. To keep that going, they came up with some very non-traditional versions of their iconic guns. That should not take away credit from the original models they were based off of. As noted previously, the competition GP100 is not really a GP and Ruger states clearly on their website it is based off of the Super Redhawk frame.
If a 5", blued steel, .44 Special GP100 does not look classic, I am not sure what would. This is my blued GP100 that I have owned for quite some time. It is extremely accurate, very well balanced, and beyond durable. It handles magnum loads with ease. These are all things that I find important in a gun that will be carried into the mountains.
This has been an exceptional revolver for me. It has taken a couple of deer, has covered untold miles on my belt, and beats my buddies 686 every time. I am not sure what more I could ask for.
I am glad the Sixes have a strong following, but the GP works better for me.