Yes, I like this kit. As you say, longer space for the blank than you get on a sedona, but not quite as chunky as the Polaris.
The mica was a small buy from eBay. No particular brand. I made up a blue mica with the tiniest amount of opaque blue colour and a yellow mica with nothing else. Catalysed one, waited 15 minutes and catalysed the the. When teh first started to gel, I swirled them.
The resultant blank is quite translucent. The trick is that the tube is painted black. It gives a fantastic 3D effect.