I've had Nevagals in dual, all sticky rubber, 2.3 and 2.5. All have sort of a "I've hit terminal velocity." feeling. That said, they're very good.
I've had several Maxxis in different sizes and rubber types. Most Maxxis I've had have excelled at cornering, value and lasting longer than some tires. One of the Maxxis high roller models has an in between standard and sticky rubber and those are really good. I haven't tried High Roller 2 which may not have that spooky feeling High Rollers can have when you first lay them sidways.
Note that I've not had any soft rubber tire last particularly well, and none hold up to sharp rocks. They've spared me so much blood letting that I use them at Blue Mound regardless.
My past two season solution for wanting what I like in the Maxxis and Nevegal are Shwalbe Hans Dampf. They're expensive, huge, not too fast but have less of that Nevegal terminal velocity feeling.
Tubeless is worth trying. I've seen too many have problems when the tires were not UST or sold as "tubeless ready" so I've only used that type. With tubeless and those big Hans Dampf I've gone from 32 psi and occasional pinch flat to 28 psi and no pinch flats. My only tubeless flats have been straight on puncture with one incident of my Stans jizz dried out.
Sure, I've liked some tire patterns a lot but the wake up call for me was soft rubber tubeless, low pressure and going big. I say that because the Shwalbes I have are nothing but basic old fashioned looking knobbies but many people like them.
Be careful. I think tire talk is like debating guitar strings, favorite beer and worth keeping the phrase De gustibus non est disputandum in mind.
