I'm trying to get a feel for how Storm's cover relate to each other regarding strength.

I know that Reactor is now used in the Tropical series balls and the Ride.  Per Storm's FAQ's R2S was a stronger version of Reactor and R2X was a stronger version of R2S.
R2Sâ„¢
    This coverstock was a chemically-enhanced material that originated from one our most famous coverstocks, Reactorâ„¢. It was introduced originally in the Special Agentâ„¢ in 2007.
R2Xâ„¢
    First introduced in the Gravity Shiftâ„¢ in February of 2008, the R2Xâ„¢ coverstock was derived from the R2Sâ„¢ cover but with new chemical additives that created more friction.

Where does ERG fit in the mix? Is that stronger than R2X? If you had a Crux and Crux pearl, what would be a good dropdown from there?

Bill, do you feel the Lucid was more surface based in relation to the core strength?

Plus u got many saying the crux pearl is awfully weak....another weaker erg, which in all honesty is what u need! Just saying the erg is not stronger than the r2x, and of all of the erg releases the crux is the closest to r2x

Idk...I know thatcontradicts what I said but, I know I would be able to throw a byte longer within a set longer than I could a optimus/marvel pearl.  I think there is an additive in the r2x to get it to bite the lane, where as there is an additive in the erg for length.  That's what I have noticed after drilling all of these releases. 

The virtual gravity just worked...it was a great cover/core combo.  Like they were both designed for each other.  Everything else kinda seems priced together.  It wasn't overly strong it was strong enough to be playable on most heavy conditions, while being the strong ball on the market. It also helped that it looked great, very forgiving, carried well, and was easy revving for most bowlers.

Its comparable to how awesome the original marvel was, everything else just doesn't compare.  Like how bad did the modern marvel and the original IQ solid (no tour) do?

In terms of the crux I feel they're very similar with different hook shapes...the VG was just better.  I wouldn't be surprised if hats their collector 30 Anni ball that's coming.

Sounds like the Dream On could be close to the VG from what I've heard. I wonder if that is similar to R2X.

More importantly that optimus solid coming out has the r2x on it.  I will be getting it for sure.  The VG was money as was the marvel solid.  So I'm getting the big and the Opti-solid

As has already been mentioned, it is all about core shell matchups.  That is what made the VG and the Marvel Pearl such great balls.  Also someone mentioned the core in the Lucids, which originally made its debut in the AZO Area.  Area was a tremendous tournament condition ball for me.  That core didn't work in the Vivid for as many people, but when they wrapped a pearl shell around it in the Lucid, I again found a great tournament condition ball.  Likewise the core of the Marvel is horrible for me with solid shell, but teamed with the Pearl it made that ball something special. 

Good conversation so far.  We/I need a "Justin Wi" for Storm to create a matrix of balls/covers like Justin did for Motiv.

I believe storm says its NRG without the additives/particle.  I wonder this myself, r2s is r2x without additives, erg is NRG without the additives.  R3s is R3x without the additives.  I assume its 3 different covers, I think ERG is reverse engineering the NRG cover tweaking it to make it THS friendly.

I have the crux being the strongest iteration of the ERG...the rest of the erg's I have owned...lucid, zero, byte were all fairly weak IMO.

Bill, while looking at the description for the Marvel pearl I saw that the ETM additive was taken out of the R2X in the Marvel pearl. This is from the description:
The Prodigy's pearl R2X material included enhanced traction mica (ETM) and a 4000-grit Abralon texture to help control the midlane with reading as early as the 2000-grit solid Marvel. So, taking the ETM out of shell and reducing the surface roughness with a 1500-grit polish, created more of a skid-flip reaction that bowlers love.

I would go with a ball like the IQ Tour or the Hy-Road to ball down from a Crux

2Handed - that's what I was thinking, either a Hy-Road or a Rocket.  I was thinking that the Rocket may be too sharp on the back tho. Or I could just wait for the Sky Rocket?