I don't know if it's easier on the crown, I just know that I feel like it looks better with my face.

Stetson makes a good hat. I've got one of their black buffalo hats but I'm not home to look at the model. It's one of the low end ones so probably a 4x? I've also got one of their 10x that I had the crown reshaped on because I loved the fit but it was a cattleman.

The funny thing is I don't really wear them in public except on stage so I tend to wear the cheap ones (that's where the Stampede does its job) so that if it gets messed up I don't care so the ones I use are all naturally distressed from being abused. I think I've worn the good one twice outside of the house, once to a country themed wedding and once to a funeral for an old rancher. I've also got a straw and a wool one that I wear out to my buddy's ranch with drawstrings just to keep the sun off.

Now that I've said it out loud, I realize I have too many fucking hats.