AusBonsai

No 1 & 2 rugged would look better with flakey or rough barked trees and I don't think the pot colour would make the plum blossom "sing"

No 3 "A bit of elegance" has a nice sheen to emphasise the sheen in the plum bark and I think that the pot colour would enhanse the plum blossom. (possibly with the addition of a rock if the roots lend themselves to "Root-over-rock", to give the composition a bit more elevation, speaking as a rock-a-holic).

No 4 "More elegance" doesn't work for me because of the pot colour and matt finish.

No 5 "Old Japanese pot" has the elegance to work with the tree's style, the depth would add elevation to the planting lifting the lower branch and giving good seperation from the viewing platform and the low sheen finish and colour would work well with the plum blossom and when in leaf.

So for me the choice is between No 3 & No 5.

I look forward to seeing it potted whichever way you chose to go.

As promised I am reporting in after the repot.
After relooking (I think that is a real word) at the three pots that made the second round I decided against the second elegant one because I didn't think the colour would do anything for the flowers. That left me with the first rugged one and the Japanese pot and I went with the rugged pot because I thought the movement in the tree matched the movement in the pot. Unfortunately I couldn't make it fit without removing too many roots, so I planted it into the Japanese pot.
I hope you like it.

Very nice inddeed. Would love to see an image when it flowers.

Good choice, looking good. Will it flower this year do you think Watto? If so please post.
Cheers
Kirky

It had a good cut before wiring so I'm not expecting too many flowers this year, but if it surprises me I will certainly post a photo.

No flowers but I thought I would post an update.
It has grown leaps and bounds and I definitely needed to remove the wire, so I gave it a trim at the same time.
First a look before the trim.

And the post trim and wire removed photo.
Still haven't decided on the preferred viewing side but there is plenty of time for that.