[son of brummell]

Full canvas is better. There is less stiffness in a full canvas coat without it being sloppy. I find that fully fused or 1/2 canvas tend to be stiff (like armor) and give a stiff appearance. The softer appearance of the full canvas is more elegant.

Yes, there are full canvas coats which are inferior. I agree that superior workmanship and fit in a fully fused coat is superior to an ill-fitting and poorly made canvas one.

A telling anecdote. A Savile Row tailor that I used to frequent had grown by acquiring and merging with other tailors who were retiring. Most of these acquired firms were celebrated. One such tailor was the Duke of Windsor's last tailor. That tailor fused his coats. My tailor, the one acquiring and merging the businesses, told me that he was phasing-out the fusing upon acquiring that other firm. My tailor felt that a hand made Savile Row suit should be hand made and not be fused. The full canvas front was a higher level of make. Hence, he discontinued the fusing except for a few hold-out customers who demanded it.