MT summed it up pretty well.

Also Fallguy's comment on paddling "upstream in shallow water with rocks", not a good place for carbon paddles, use with caution.

The Zav's are built with 3 parts, grip, shaft, and blade. Any one of which can be replaced if broken. They're held together with 5 min epoxy which can be softened with a heat gun and removed. And just like composite canoes, minor damage can be repaired with epoxy and some carbon cloth.

You'll also feel the water better (because of the thinner blade edge) and IMO probably improve your paddling technique, much like using a quality fishing rod. If you lay one down don't lay it so it forms a bridge, lay it so the blade is up. That way if it does get stepped on it'll tip up.