I have to admit as a soapstone owner, once you are burning 24/7 you really don't get much benefit out of the stones holding the heat. It comes in handy during shoulder season, though since it will hover at 300 degrees for quite a while.
In regards to the 'soft heat'; when the stove is sitting at 600 degrees, I'm not sure it qualifies as 'soft' anymore.
Bottom line is that both stove are very good stoves. Both will put out about the same amount of heat and you can't go wrong with either, if they meet your heat output needs. If you like the looks of one more than the other, that will be the deciding factor since you will be starring at it for the next several years.
In regards to the 'soft heat'; when the stove is sitting at 600 degrees, I'm not sure it qualifies as 'soft' anymore.
Bottom line is that both stove are very good stoves. Both will put out about the same amount of heat and you can't go wrong with either, if they meet your heat output needs. If you like the looks of one more than the other, that will be the deciding factor since you will be starring at it for the next several years.