I know this is a bit OT but since I'm coming round to getting a new replacement set of luggage I thought I'd ask the more experienced travellors their opinions:

1. Are there any benefits associated with having the most garish luggage possible, such as this set from Debenhams?



I imagine it's easier to spot on arrival and probably easier for the airline to find if your luggage got lost but are you more likely to be random searched or have your bag "vandalised"?

2. Have you found any brand to be better than the other?

I have bought Tripp (from Debenhams) in the past and found them to be fairly rugged but they've started to get frayed and the handle is ripping away from the body after about a dozen trips.
Is Samsonite still the best?

3. What is the most efficient combination of sizes?

I usually try to travel with hand luggage only but have noticed the cabin bags being sold are smaller than when I last purchased mine. After 9/11 the cabin allowance was drastically reduced but has since gone back up so I wonder if the bag manufacturers are playing catch up?
For checked luggage have you come across an ideal sized bag for the 23kg allowance?