I prefer thick hawks. For me, too thin is when you reach the point where all your hair does is stand up, and it's gapped everywhere, and you don't have enough hair to fix it, or to make it look full.
i think mine is a bit too thin, its about an inch, maby an inch and a half, but it works for me, it gets gaps in it but i like them, dunno why. not when there's huge gaping gaps but when there little small ones.
Mine is over a foot. About the same width as yours. Mine is fairly easy tog et up. Its the wind i have a problem with. I've realized that generally it is easier to put up in the morning though.