US runs their Tri-Crees at a combined 1000mA, rather than the full 3000mA needed for maximum brightness. Even if it was resisted for 3A, the batteries they use are limited to 2A, so that poor thing will never be at full brightness.
Emitter detail comes down to the US being based on Luke's lathed emitter that was smooth in the original prop, while the Exalted uses an Obi-Wan emitter which was originally made from a more detailed machine part. I *think* US offers a similarly detailed emitter in its Overlord, but there's no matching thin-neck. The SF Prodigal Son offers its own smooth Luke emitter.
Metal type should be the same in both hilts, so difference in feel is perhaps due to the thicker walls in the Exalted. Both hilts have a 1.5" OD, but the US has 1/8" walls, while the Exalted likely has 3/16" walls. The Exalted handling might come down to having more metal in the hilt to counterbalance the blade.
Technical bits aside, a fair comparison of the two.
By the by, if you're ever up for a bit of modding and *really* want a recessed switch in a US hilt, you can order one of their sabers with a Guarded switch, remove the switch, widen the hole to 12mm (1/2"), and drop a 12mm AV switch into the recessed hole left behind.