I have slowly been practicing without a shoulder rest, here and there, until I found myself barely using my shoulder rest.  I do put it on for lessons because I'm not ready to "put myself out there" without out, but I will soon do so.  I like the feeling of freedom, of connection to the instrument.  I had to develop a new vibrato but shifting oddly enough was pretty fluid from the start.  

The Holstein comfort chinrest was a huge help in comfort.  I can't let go of the instrument without it drooping but that's not a problem.  At the same time I've worked on a bow hold with the thumb more toward the tip, rather than nestled in the frog.  The result is that I feel much more connected to everything, and I "feel" the give of the string as I bow.  I know it's psychological, but how much more of music is the same?  

I believe that everyone is built differently and I am not advocating for restless playing as the only way.  I will likely swap between the two, because now when I have the SR on I am supporting the violin with the left hand 99% of the time anyway.  

The odd side benefit is that I had a Guarneri chinrest, which has the side cup but is center mounted.  Going to the side mounted Holstein chinrest really opened up my instrument's sound.