In reply to chers:
true- live plucking is an issue regarding the fill of -sleeping bags and down jackets- patagonia and north face got hammered for this last year. check out mountain equipment if you want a really ethical approach to down procurement, i was speaking to some of the guys at mountain equipment and they were really excited by the steps taken to ensure they know and are happy with the sourcing of the down and that it is a by-product rather than live plucked.
i would rather have a warmer, lighter, more compressible down bag that is ethical than a synthetic bag that is the product of the oil industry