well, I will speak up as a fan of Lasting Love (which was sold as Commandant Cousteau until about 2009), but with the caveat that I'm in zone 10, so cold zoners should take that with a big grain of salt. It's my go-to recommendation for the folk who always ask me for a "fragrant, classically formed, did I say fragrant?, red hybrid tea" and, unlike Velvet Fragrance, it is usually available (even now) in well-stocked nurseries. And yes, it is very fragrant, and I use it to win fragrance classes in shows quite often. I love the foliage, which seems to be disease free here in mildew heaven, and you can easily see why -- the leaves are very shiny and thick. I have grown Velvet Fragrance, but only as an own root plant, and it committed suicide in that configuration before it really got established. If I saw Velvet Fragrance somewhere as a grafted plant, I would try it again, but not own root. As for the OP's original question about whether these newer red hybrid teas are really better than Mirandy, Papa Meilland, etc., I would say yes, even though I still grow most of these older ones. On the older plant varieties, the bloom and especially its fragrance, is often superior, but all of them seem to grow poorly, and lankily for me. But I keep them around because I like the blooms when they deign to produce one or two. Papa Meilland is an especially poor grower, with an especially fantastic one or two occasional blooms. Sitting here sniffing a Papa M. right now. Here, have a whiff:

My Rdr is bare now, but it's in a spot where it's not getting a lot of sun right now because of the angle of the sun. My roses in the front get tons of sun even now because my yard faces south. It's actually sunnier there now than in the summer because then the sun is overhead and the trees block some of it. I have lots of new growth on most of my roses out front, but they may not have time to put on buds if it gets cold. Also, no rain for weeks, so that is having an effect. My teas look the best. Mdme Lambard is really pretty right now. Also Lady Hillingdon. I guess they like the cooler weather.

Thanks everyone for helping me narrow down my options, and for your great suggestions. So many names so little room in my yard! I really appreciate the great pictures as well. Amazing how many of you guys put in a word for Veterans' honor! Of all those suggested, it got 6/8 votes. It must be a heck of a rose, now I must give it a try. I look forward to testing its' longevity. I've searched other posts here and there seems to have always been favoritism towards Veterans' honor and Ingrid Bergman. Those must be some solid red roses. My take is that Veterans' honor would look better for its single blooms while Ingrid Bergman bush as whole would look great in the landscape-which would be nice to have since my Mister Lincolns are so Tall and Lanky looking. It is amazing the variety available for a "red" rose. Thanks everyone.

It's a great plant, nice structure & leaves, healthy & vigorous for me that isn't a water hog once established. I don't like the color. It's a dull flat rosy red, almost gray magenta... don't recall the flower shape or fragrance, so it must be passable. I really liked Cesar Chavez, O.L. Weeks & Loving Memory this year. Variable fragrance for those three depending on conditions.