I've tried merino wool (IB, ibex, smartwool) a few times before because I keep hearing such great things about it's moisture and temperature management, but it always starts itching sooner or later. I'm glad I kept trying, because I finally found a merino shirt with no itch, and it's awesome! This shirt is so soft I can hardly tell the difference between it and a standard cotton T.
Seams and stitching are excellent. The fabric itself is more tightly knit than some other merino brands. Where wind just whips through my smartwool and IB pieces, the Stoic Bliss shirt provides a little protection from a cool breeze. This isn't an issue if you're actually using it as the base of a layering system, but if you fall in love with this shirt like I have and wear it everywhere, it's a plus.
The zip pocket extends all the way to the left side-panel seam Great for a paper trail map, not so great for anything small and dense (phone, gps, mp3) as it will be sliding around every time you move.
Bottom line: If you've never tried merino, try Stoic first. If you like merino, get 2.