I'm a new guy here, but thought I'd throw in my 2cents worth.  Like someone else who replied above, I use one of those $50 Mohawk double blade paddles on my solo trips.  I paddle a tandem canoe, but I may well use the double blade if I had a solo canoe as well.  It just feels right to me, and I feel like I can really move along when I want.  I always mean to take the paddle apart and set it up as a single for trolling, but I never seem to even do that.  

As far as being a traditionalist goes...it seems to me that I heard of some of the early trappers (1800's) using double blade paddles at times.  I'm not certain about that, but I've heard it more than once.

BTW, seems like a nice BB!

Chuck