Here is the performance of the respective center columns of the Feisol 3442 and Gitzo G1228.

In terms of build quality, the Gitzo wins hands down. The Gitzo is nicely baffled with a fiber insert. The Feisol has no insert. The Gitzo retains a stable feel even when the collar is loose while the Feisol just flops around a bot (similar, interestingly, to a GT3530 I recently handled even though it had the fiber insert and was assembled correctly as best I could determine).

In terms of performance, it was a different story. The inexpensive Feisol add-on column performed quite well, which was a shock to me.