Posted on Sep 15 2013 01:24 AM
The principle has been around for a while. There are also a few people who propose a "graduated" tension.
You could have always bought single strings to make equal tension sets 
You can buy those in bulk too.
As Jake mentions, hex and round course have different tensions and "feel" when it comes to bending.
There are a couple of things to consider:
Original strat pickups were designed with the stagger to compensate for the inherent magnetic differences between strings of different mass and gauge. On some guitars, especially those with old school pickup staggers, while the tension might be balanced, the OUTPUT may not be. Those of you that play on a plain 3rd without a "modern stagger" probably have 3rd strings that are overly loud.
Also, the "feel" of a string - and the ability to bend it more easily are not has to do with total length - on a strat the higher strings are comparatively harder to bend because they're longer past the nut. On an LP, it's the D and G that are harder to bend (comparatively). String tree make a difference.
I've tried to figure out if there is a relationship between tension and deflection - for example, if you bend a string the same distance - let's say 1/2" from center, will the resulting change in pitch be greater with greater tension or lower tension?
I will say, the B string is definitely the most irritating to me in a modern set - it's way to easy to bend compared to the others.
I accidentally put a 10 on my guitar last time I changed strings and I have to say, it was nice to have a high E that bent as easily as the B.
But my B string is already the loudest (I play on a wound 3rd and even with a vintage stagger it's still quieter) and if I increase it's mass any it's just going to get that much louder.
I've been going for balanced output - I'd love to have balanced output with balanced tension - if they only made pickups with pole pieces that really made a change when you screw them up or down - and all pole pieces should be adjustable!
Steve
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