Thanks for the pics. Do you feel there's enough padding at the bottom (with the inner pad removed) to adequately protect it? Not a major drop of course, but normal use and travel? I'm thinking airplane overhead compartment or gate checked (not through baggage claim).
Oh yeah, the supportive pad at the bottom is used only to shorten the scale length. There's already adequate padding.
I'd always go hard case when traveling by plane though, those airport baggage handler videos on youtube make me CRINGE.
It's a sturdy case regardless, and will probably be totally fine.