Bluemels
Just had a look on the Chickens website and the SKS Chromoplastic "the Rolls Royce of mudgards" apparently are about a five more expensive than the SKS Bluemels – which to my simple brain equates to a fiver better, although back in the mists of time I seem to remember the Bluemels doing rather well in C+ tests..
As to M. Berthoud’s guards, as you might have guessed I’m no mudguard expert, but I wouldn’t hold being shiny against the stainless steel ones – they look pretty robust to me – especially the ones with the complete fixing set, they also seem to have that more rounded profile you are looking for.
If you’re not completely sold on either of the SKS options it might be worth emailing the poster who bought them to see how he got on (go to the thread and just click on his name and you’ll get the option to email him).