Lock vs. Carbon for US Players?

Hello, getting back into poker again since my schedule cleared up a bit. Have just started researching about the US problem again, and gathered that the Merge network is leading. My question is, would you prefer Lock or Carbon? Is there any advantages of one over the other that you've found? I mostly play small sit n go's and sometimes cash games, and love the occasional low stakes guaranteed multi-table tournies. Missing pokerstars quite a bit.

Any thoughts?

*If this matters, I've already deposited at Carbon before, so would getting a new deposit bonus be an advantage of going with Lock? Is the first deposit bonus terribly hard to get?

Carbon and Lock are pretty much the same thing with different skins, dont think there is much difference at all

I'd go with Lock for the fact that you would get the 1st depositer's bonus again and the cashouts can be much quicker once you're a VIP as they handle part of their own cashout system. I've had 2 withdrawals over the last 1.5 months in my hand in 3 days each time.

There are many Merge skins. We have regular games at Carbon and BlackChip Poker, and some at LOCK. There are many more merge skins tho. Many we don't even know the names of.

There is also the Cake network. We have games at intertops (ITOPS). There was a post with a hint that Itops paid out pretty fast.

Great, thanks for the input. I guess I'm going to try both of them out eventually, so I'll probably update this when I gather what the main differences are for me, etc.

Lock has the vault and the of sharks scope

Carbon has more private freerolls than lock, if you are looking for that.

which site cashes the fastest!? And which option would you choose to cash out the fastest? I know check arrives in a month or more.......is there anything better than check and how fast and which site!?!??!!!??!?!?!??!?!? SIGH......thanks xD

I'd hands down choose Carbon just because Cardschat has some 'cash-added' buyins on there. BlackChipPoker would be my 2nd choice (for same reason... & maybe would accomplish both of your goals > a deposit bonus, the depositor freerolls & be able to play in the Cardschat 'cash-added' buyin tourneys).