My very first LV was ALSO a mono Alma and I was scared to death to carry her! I think I carried her maybe 3 times in the entire 2 years that I owned her. I decided in the end to sell her to someone who would love her and use her because I was too chicken to. Too much vachetta! I ended up buying an epi alma that I now use all the time because epi is lower maintenance.
Now, before I buy a bag, I ask myself, will I be afraid to use it? This question usually makes me stay away from bags with too much vachetta and white bags....although I got a white Epi Montaigne GM in May. But since it is epi, I know it is easier to maintain.