This bug isn't going away, and I think it's going to end up manifesting in a 12ga steel receivered O/U somehow, on Charby's and others' recommendations to stick with 12.
I've got 3 contenders.
1. CZ Drake Southpaw. Seems they reverse the barrel release on the southpaw variant, which is nice. This is the only lefty-friendly model of the 3 I'm looking at, but I don't see the release being a major issue (though right-biased stocks could be an issue on others). But they do a black chrome instead of bluing, which is bothersome. Pistol-grip stock. I believe it's a white dot front sight. Extractor with no ejection, which I could see as nice given I will mostly be hunting in the desert, and dove and quail seem to enjoy cholla clusters. Seems I can get this for around $800. No point stepping up higher on CZ's product line if I really want bluing; all their O/U shotguns are chrome finished.
2. Franchi Instinct L. This is going to be around $1400-$1500. Case hardened steel receiver, blued barrels. Fiber optic front sight. Prince of Wales stock. Despite being "right handed" that seems to only apply to the barrel release orientation, not to any part of stock grip design or cheek pad. This checks all the boxes I think I want, I'm just unsure what a Prince of Wales stock grip feels like compared to a pistol grip.
3. Browning Citori Hunter Grade 1. Knocking at $2000. Blued receiver and barrels. Silver bead front sight, I think I'd rather have fiber optic. Pistol grip stock. Nominally right handed, but again it looks very neutral in orientation much like the Franchi. Japanese made rather than Turkish for the CZ, and Italian(?) for the Franchi. This is probably the safest bet for me to go with, and least likely to regret getting. I'd most likely want a different front sight on it though.
Anyone have insight on a Prince of Wales stock cut?