Your timing is good!
I have a Hitec Aurora 9 here and I'm trying hard to get a Futaba 8FG (as well as a Spektrum DX8 when they're launched, a JR11X and an Airtronics SD10G -- so as to do a comprehensive side-by-side comparison and test.
It's good to see that Hitec have enough confidence in their product to submit one for the review process and, although I haven't had a chance to take a good look at it yet, I must admit it's very impressive in a number of areas.
I've emailed Hobbico and Horizon to see if they'll match Hitec's kind offer of submitting a review sample of their products but so far -- deathly silence.
You might want to drop Hobbico an email and suggest that they consider providing a review radio since, like yourself, there are quite a number of people considering buying radios in this 8-11 channel segment of the market and they all want to know which radio will be best (for them).
Another cool thing is that, if they provide a unit for review and don't want it returned, it'll go into the RCModelReviews.com prize pool and you (or someone else) could win it
RCModelReviews.com, just the facts.