So what you're all( well maybe not all) saying that going with another strategie is better than the Pithing Needle plan. I mean What if a non-counterdeck( say Mono red Goblins) boards in Tormod's Crypt most of you're SB is unplayable( No confidant, no grid) and you only have three answers if they put down a Crypt( Echoing Truth) wich can countered with their REB. But when you were playing a SB like this one:

4 Pithing Needle
4 Defense Grid
3 Echoing Truth
4 Engineered Plague

you could play Needle on Crypt and still combo off using you're graveyard. That said I'm even considering to remove Plague from the side for Confidant or Duress. I think it's enough to board in Echoing Truth and Pithing Needle against goblins and that way I got still the Confidant to bring in against UWg *****.

About Fearie Stompy, although it's a hard matchup it's certainly winnable. This deck can win through a Chalice, can be faster, or bounce it. I would say its 60/40 for Stompy. Boarding in Winter Orb isn't a great plan, because Iggy Pop can win on one land.