With the internal grills - they stay clean and it is easier to clean the glass as they are full pane panels. You are correct that they are not removable.

Snap in grilles are inside and easy to break, then you will want to remove the rest. Finelight between the glass grilles are too obviously fake IMO.

If you want grilles, ask for a price to substitute permanent Simulated Divided Light grilles in the top sash with none in the bottom sash. If not too expensive that will be best.

I recommend installing a pvc sub-sill because this window model does not have a sloped sill or drip greatly increasing the possibility of water entering under it and costing a great deal more to repair than initial cost of the sub-sills. Look at the tech details on the Andersen site and you will understand why this is important.

I think we are going with the Finelight for ease of maintenance. I guess at the end of the day, we value ease of use/low maintenance over true-to-form internal/external grills.

Another vote for SDL. Between the glass is on the NO list for our upcoming build, looks cheap. I agree with Sanford, snap in will probably break and the look isn't the best either.

I have other problems with Pella, but their snap-in grilles are not on that list. (For one thing, the grilles are more substantial looking than some snap-ins.)

The Building Review Board in our town insisted on simulated true divided light windows for our front elevation -- the only elevation in sight of two-legged mammals (people) passing by, 200 feet from the house. These were EXTREMELY expensive, and we must hire someone to clean the tiny panes.

We were permitted to use between-the-glass shades and muntins on the other three elevations, including 15 French doors. In fourteen years NO ONE has ever noticed (or said they noticed) that the windows are not the same. We are able to wash these ourselves, inside, outside and occasionally in-between.

We just priced these for the local museum. The in-glass looked really bad and very fake. I would either do the snap in or splurge on the real thing.

Whatever you do, think about them matching on all parts of the room. It looks so odd to have divided windows on the front, but not the rest of the space, if it's all open.

If you have a bedroom or formal dining room (separate from the rooms facing the back) it seems to flow much better. I have never understood the need to have different siding and windows on the front of the house....not that you're necessarily doing that with your home :)

Mini Soda - You have to go with what you like.. We looked at the different options and went with the between the glass grilles.. We liked the way the grilles looked.. To be honest, windows without grilles just look too plain.. For some reason I can't even imagine building a custom home and not using the grilles (except picture windows).. It gives the house a "home" feeling.. We were contemplating using the external grilles but with the idea of them breaking and having to remove to really clean the windows we figured we would just go with the ease of use.. I think they look great.. But again, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.. Anyway.. Here is a picture.. Excuse the horrible wrapping job lol.. These are the Andersen 400 series with finelight grilles.. They also still have the protective film on them..

I have had the wooden clip in pella grids for years, they still look good and no breakage. They have help up extremely well.