I've had my Hornet/DS about 3 years. Ridden single track, multi-day adventure rides, 300 mile days of slab, commuted, and all-around riding. Bikes have been everything from dirt bikes to sport bikes. IMHO, if you like the "Adventure" look (which includes the beak and shield), it's a winner. Arguably, I hear feedback over and over that the Quest is the quietest Shoei product (Shoei rep has told me it was designed to be). I'd say I agree, but I still rock the bitchin' RF1100 Diabolic Divinity for dedicated street use as it adds 1.28% more RWHP... ;D
Here's how I put it to customers about helmet buying in general:
The rider's positioning, bike's profile, and about a million other parameters influence to what degree negative issues manifest. It can be small things we don't tend to notice too. Rider A with 32" arms will have a different aerodynamic profile than Rider B with 34" arms (B doesn't have to lean forward as much to the bars), hence their helmet is in a different position in the airstream. Both riders can easily have different opinions of the noise, lift, and buffeting effects of a helmet even though all other parameters (bike, windscreen, etc, etc) are identical. Different riders have different tolerance levels and perceptions of such things, which form their opinions about a "good" helmet vs. a "bad" one.
Specifically, the DS is an "Adventure" helmet in the same vein as the ARAI XD, ICON Variant, AFX FX-39, and FLY Trekker. It combines the beaked/peaked look of off-road helmets with the shield of a street helmet (duh!). As such, the wearer faces tradeoffs. A beaked helmet will generally have rougher airflow than a non-beaked, all other things being equal (that little point is key!). Rough air means noise and/or buffeting. Not a totally bad thing, just something to keep in mind if comparing apples to apples (or oranges)...
In my use, the DS has slightly more buffeting but no more noise than my RF (when both are ridden without ear plugs). I've worn it enough I really don't notice it unless I pause and think about it. I also feel the beak is almost useless for keeping the sun out of my eyes 75% of the time. Then again, I use 2 rows of electrical tape at the top of all shields and tinted goggles off-road. Fit, finish, and durability has been excellent. The removable liner makes washing a breeze, and ventilation is as good as any helmet. 'course, in 100F+ riding, ventilation is a myth propagated by marketing folks... :
I will add IMHO the XD is also a top notch option and rivals the Shoei. I'd give a very slight "plush" feeling nod to the DS, but for some the XD just fits their head better. We couldn't find an employee or customer the Icon fits comfortably, so we sent them back (looks mean though). The AFX and FLY are the same helmet, awesome value, but the AFX comes in more color choices than FLY. Can't think of any other Adventure/Dual-Sport helmets out there at the moment, none we've tried anyway...