Right, IC, I said I'd report back on the Connecta. It's fab and I've bought one.
It's very comfy. It feels quite different from my Close carrier as the weight seems to be carried around the waist and on the back below the neck rather than on the shoulders. I carried DS for the best part of 3 hours and didn't have any backache afterwards, which is unusual (he is 21lbs).
The thin coolness of the fabric is wonderful after the stretchy jersey fabric of the Close carrier. The sun hood is good and seemed to support DS's head okay when he was sleeping.
It would be good for use in the rain as it's not very absorbent fabric, so I'd put DS in waterproofs or tuck him inside my cagoule.
I've done the 'beginners back carry' to test it out and I've twice managed to get DS onto my back successfully without help. You just need to be able to pick him up / put him down from a bed / chair. It feels a bit as if the shoulder straps are going to slip off when he's on the back, but I don't think there's any real danger of that, and you can use the accessory strap to go across the top of your chest so it's impossible for them to fall off.
There is an 'advanced back carry' from 9 months where you put baby on your hip and bounce them round to your back, so no need for a bed / chair to start from, but it looks a bit scary!
I've seen someone breastfeed (a toddler) in it, and I think it would be relatively straightforward for a baby who's happy to feed in an upright position. You need to loosen the straps & slide one side off the shoulder a bit.
Men can cross the straps over their chest, which DH said was more comfortable.
The problem with dye rubbing off seems to have been a one-off and following laundry advice from Connecta it sorted itself out.
And it is very small & light to carry.
Go on, get one!