I would actually be one of the few to say that trying on an FPJ is probably less important than almost al other brands. For one, Journe is known for being eminently wearable and it’s not like trying on a royal oak or a datograph. If the CB was 38 or 40 instead I’m sure I’d still have wanted it. Instead the primary factor would probably be design - if you like the design then there’s nothing else out there quite like it.
On the boutique vs ad, I don’t think this is close either if you’re in Sydney. Building a relationship with hour glass is far more valuable since you a) actually live there and b) I guarantee you’ll develop an interest in other independents such as mbnf and de bethune and guess what; only hour glass stocks them in Sydney. You may have romantic visions of jet setting frequently to the Tokyo boutique and getting the full VIP service, but being realistic the day to day benefits of being ingratiated with hour glass Sydney are much greater (get invited to events you can actually go to, have a first look at a daytona, have a sales rep you can communicate with regularly in English). And hour glass isn’t just any AD, it’s one of the best in the world.
As for what went into thinking about which first Journe I wanted, I was drawn to the design as alluded before and the asymmetry and in particular wanted the RDM. I ended up going with a CB though due to availability; in hindsight though it probably should have been my first choice as it’s by far the most versatile and flexible for regular wear. In this day and age, strapping on a dressier watch is less and less likely, and however impressive that watch is , infrequent likely use is a big drawback to consider and Journe is a dressy brand by nature. So I’d consider whether an octa lune for example is in practice too dressy compared to a sports Journe. Good luck!