So I am planning my next hand plane purchase and was hoping to get some
advice from the wreck.

I find that I am most missing a small shoulder plane for trimming up
mortice and tenon joinery. I have a lie-nelson shoulder block plane,
but have found it unwieldy on the shoulder or the tenon. So far I have
been drawn primarily to either a japanese style, probably from Steve
Knight, wooden shoulder plane, or the Clifton shoulder plane. I am
reluctant though to drop up to a couple hundred dollars on something in
case I later find it's not what I really want.

I must admit the depth adjustment knobs on western style planes is
appealing, but I have found my japanese smoothing plane is reached for
much more often than my number 5.

I guess I am wondering what peoples thoughts are on these two types of
shoulder planes, though realize that the fit in the hand and some other
number of intangible things contribute to the ideal handtool.

While I am asking, what is the consensus of japanese dovetail chisels?
Do they do a better job somehow than high quality japanese bench
chisels at chopping joints? I have some extra money and want to add a
partial set of nice chisels to the bench.

Thanks for any thoughts you guys have

Andrew