for me it comes down to the handle for some tools rather than the business end. For needle nose, depending what you're working on if you have SO and Knipex then CL won't likely impress you. I like the comfort handle Knipex and the CL Code Blue are comparable to them and to the 'journeyman/2000' series Klein, while the 'regular' handle Knipex & CL are similar, and similar to all SO pliers I've used. For other common pliers types, they are more or less the same in how you use them, the differences may come in durability or material/intended use; common example is what are the cutters intended to cut.
Given the choice I will go with Knipex comfort handles over all of the above. Given the price point and availability, I own several CL pliers though. I really wish they'd expand the Code Blue line especially to the more specialty pliers I'm only going to buy one of ever; I'd go with CL for all of that.
