2004 or 2005 Salomon F24 boots?

Hi people, as from my previous posts about a problem-solver for my small @ss feet (size 4.5 men's), I have come across these 2004 salomon F24 for a wicked price at Sierra Trading Post for about 100 bucks when it used to retail for over 300: http://www.sierratradingpost.com/Product.aspx?baseno=66751
I have a 2006 Burton Vapor board I bought on sale and mounted these with 2006 Cartels.  I don't want to go kids size or women's boots as this would be a severe outrage.  The problem is, I am wondering by the look sof the 2005 Salomon, there is a noticeable difference in which the upper section of the booth also has a covering protection where the 2004 model is lacking it.
picture for the 2005 salomon F24 is here: http://www.surftheearthsnowboards.com/cgi-bin/ste_store/ste_store.cgi?page=product/boots/SAL516.html&cart_id=3375244_5452
 I don't know other than the upper covering on the 2005 model, is there any other noticeable difference between the 04 and 05 model?  I wanted to buy the 2005 model but unfortunately I can't find one in my size which is a size 23 (4.5 men's). 
  If any of you have ridden the the 2004 or 2005 salomon F24, please leave some remarks about your experience with it.  Was it comfortable, were you able to ride with it the whole day?  Does it cushion your jumps very well?  And I was wondering if an intermediate like me could ride it cuz if it's super stiff, I might be falling half the time on the mountains..
  Also, if you guys could recommend any other high end boot in a size 23 men's (4.5 us men) that would be great as I am running out of time and if it ships, I will have to go through a lot of trouble in returning it.

Thankyou

hi,