I didn't attend any 2013 show, so my opinion is not representative, but :
- I agree about 96 being the "best" solo tour, at least my fav one, and my fav live MK experience (setlist, song arrangements, surprises, interaction with the crowd, my distance to Mark, etc....)
- the last verse in TR si sung in the same was as the studio version only during the LOG tour, so only on Alchemy if we count soundboard versions. he change his way of singing this verse since 91 until now, adn I never liked it. Idem for the middle solo (the "slow one") he play a lick since 96 (6'06-6'09 in the YT link below) that he didn't play in 83 and 92, and I don' like it neither. That's why I will always prefer Alchemy, even if there are nice parts on all other tours.
- Herlock I agree with your thoughts about rockpalast. I never understood why the SH version is called "fantastic" (on Jeroen's site and many more). I far prefer late 79 (amsterdam) or late 80 (boston, emerald city...). But what makes Rockpalast sultans version special, is that Mark played the wrong solo, and so played it again "properly".
And indeed I remember when Pottel made the "best live versions" list on MK news, it appeared that most of the time people choosed the most well known gigs, mainly soundboard and video, which gave Rockpalast79, Basel92, Wembley85, whereas there are versions far far better, but less known, even by the fans....
edit : I forgot to add the YT link for that special lick...