Mmm, a lot of speculation there and not a lot of practical experience.
Firstly, X bracing does not make the hybrid sound. X bracing does change the sound of an oval hole, but it is more of a subtle change, not a big change. My ears prefer the X.
Moving the neck foreward changes a whole heap of things, and what exactly contributes the most to make the hybrid sound I don't really know. I have made a number of long neck oval hole mandolins and it is possible to get them sounding like an oval hole, not a hybrid, but it is not easy. The first one I made sounded like a hybrid, so I failed at the first attempt. Mine have a smaller body than my standard oval hole mandolins, the cross piece is at the 14th fret, and the fingerboard remains attached to the soundboard. The sound is a bit different, a shift towards the Lyon and Healy sound, but there is none of the "throaty" sound that is so characteristic of F hole mandolins (and hybrid oval hole mandolins). Ring and sustain remains just like a standard oval hole mandolin. I think if you raise the fingerboard and move the neck foreward to the 15th fret you will always end up with a hybrid sound.
For those interested there are pictures on my web site and sound clips so you can do a direct comparison. I really like them, but they are difficult to sell so I have not made one for a while.
http://www.petercoombe.com/standard.html
As to the question on why anyone would buy a new oval hole mandolin rather than a vintage Gibson there are a number of reasons. The Gibsons are somewhat variable. A few a great, many are ok, some are not so inspiring. At close to 100 years old many also have issues. In the intervening years a lot has happened. We now have carbon fibre, improved tuners, improved bridges, improved tailpieces, X bracing etc etc, and we also have people like me who have studied the oval hole mandolin and can make a great sounding oval hole mandolin each and every time. Personally I don't really see the point in making a mandolin that looks and sounds exactly like a Gibson, I prefer to make a mandolin that sounds better! Anyway that is the aim, and there are plenty of customers that want one that does sound better, or at least as good as the very best of the Gibsons that are few in number.
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