I'm not super good at PVP but after switching to TLW over Thorn (which I used the crap out of), TLW is far superior. A way better shotgun counter, and can do a much better job of canceling multiple supers (nova bomb, bladedance, FoH, and sunsinging). This is in one week of using TLW over Thorn. My money's on TLW. I honestly don't know why Thorn is hated so much more than TLW, since it's not as good.

The anger towards Thorn stems from the fact that it can basically one shot anyone that has taken damage. It leads to less skilled players being able to compete by camping certain part of the maps and simply putting one shot into someone to get a payoff kill. Generally, people who use it tend to use it as a ranged weapon, completely contrary it's class of weapon, and if it doesn't kill you, it basically leaves you in the brink of death and and easy scrap kill for anyone else.

I just use Hard Light, cuz you know everyone you kill is gonna be super ticked for dying to Hard Light.