Still think that all you need is a 9.5.
I remember pulling myself out of the end of the bottom water run at Lincomb on a single line. It's near vertical at the end and it did it without fuss. Ian was the only person to be able to drive through it unaided and even that took two attempts if I recall. Quite a test of a winch. Like I said, it did it on a single line. All very well having 12 000lbs, but in reality, you'll need to make sure that all the other bits are similarly rated. D links, straps and strops etc. As the winch only pulls at the rate that it needs - in other words it's not actually pulling 12 000lbs most of the time, I doubt that there would be many occasions where you actually realise the extra potential. You'd have to be pretty stuck and as I have said before, I have never stalled my 9500s in the past and I have been utterly stuck.
We need to be careful not to see a 9.5 as something puny. Ok, my maths might be out, but in terms of kgs, the extra that a 12 brings is the same as one of those little Machine Mart hand winches that are about £20 and can pull 1250kgs. Remember also that the top rating is only for the first turn on the drum. If you go with the thicker rope, the loss is accelerated as the drum fills faster (in some logarithmic way) and of course you can't get so much rope on the drum. The thicker ropes are 90 feet. Given the choice of longer rope or stronger winch, I know where I have fallen short in the past. And it's not the stronger winch I have needed! You need to leave 6 turns on the drum so now you are even shorter. I would suggest considering - if you go for the 12k, going with the thinner rope. It's more than capable and gives you the benefit of slower drum fill and a longer reach. I believe that you can get about 120 feet on from memory. Of course you can carry straps etc, but as people have already pointed out on here that they like a single pull because doubling is a faff, well you might as well double by the time you have got all the extra straps and links out of the back to reach the nearest tree!
Nothing wrong at all with having a 12. I can just see a fever setting in. It's gotta be a 12 or it's no good.
Just observations chaps that's all. Clearly a matter of individual choice and price. I only need (sorry want) an 8000 or similar on the back. I'd like it to be as compact as possible for space reasons. Nothing to do with price or pull really, it's just that when you dip down on the rating, some of the winches tend to come in a smaller frame size.
Chris