There are a bunch of great hammers out there. I think balance is a personal issue and I agree about the Plumbs, certainly a great hammer in their days. I have a Stilletto. Douglas, Vaughn and Hart as well as many others make a good hammer. Many are California framers. That means a stub nose. I like the wood handle with the curve. For form work I use my old True Temper Rocket. Industructable beast. Depending on what your doing will determine hammer style. The titanium is great for everday work but lacks the heft for wall framing/aligning. The wood Stiletto is pricey at $69.00 but worth it for my arm and elbows sake. They have a Titanium handle that comes in close to $200. I use my titanium wood handle for overhead nailing exclusively as well as wall blocking and some framing.
I've dabbled with hammers like the Death Stick and while they are fine, really don't offer much difference from the hammers of the 70's and 80's. A bit to heavy for my liking. I prefer 16 to 22 oz. titanium. The new titaniums come with replaceable heads. They are pricey but if you swing it everyday, your worth it. If you don't have a curved handle, try one for a while. I find I can relax my grip tremendously over the straight handle. If you don't like it, once it breaks you can always go back to straight. Rat...