i use a medium alice for backcountry skiing -- it's very durable and mostly adequate. it's easy to pack it with way too much weight way too far from the body. the frame is okay for heavier loads, but again, for BC skiing, it moves everything too far out, and likes to come-around. the suspension is mildly modded, i've lowered the hip-belt anchor points and added fastex to the hip belt and the two main comparment straps. for the money it's pretty unbeatable for rugged use. There are some great technical packs out there, but they're over $100, and generally are made to be light-weight...too light-weight for my style...
While i'm a huge advocate of frames for heavy humping, serious backpacking, and odd-shapes, i prefer a larger commercial freighter-type frames, with more sophisticated, and comfortable suspension, which i have, so i'm getting little use from the alice frame...might be different if i was using it for backpacking...or didn't have something heftier and more comfortable...
for canoe tripping, i prefer larger single-pocket packs...with a small possibles-type bag that i clip on the front for, well, possibles...
i find the external pockets detrimental, catch everything at the wrong time...