Thanks for all your contributions.

I didn't want to start another 'mode' war - like most people I tend to think of Dorian and Aeolian as being in with the minors, Mixolydian with the majors. I suppose it's down to whether they have a minor or major third, or maybe just the way they sound.

I still think the majors are better at getting you leaping about. Which is not to say there aren't lots of fine minor tunes, of course.