Flutist06 (1545 points)
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First of all, I have to question how ready you are to move up. I think in most cases, flutists are too eager to upgrade. If that student flute is of decent quality and is working properly, it should serve you for many years (I played the same student flute for 4 years, and many others have similar experiences). You shouldn't really need an upgrade unless you get into serious doubling, or decide to switch over to flute. Odds are you won't be able to appreciate a higher level flute until you gain some proficiency, which is not likely to happen over the course of a couple weeks. In any case, I would take anything your first chair said, since she threw in that "especially for a guy" comment. Any flutist with a respectable knowledge of the instrument should realize that gender doesn't play any role in determining what one can and cannot do.
Assuming that an upgrade is appropriate, what model to go with is not something we can tell you. The open holes will almost certainly serve no purpose for you, so I wouldn't be concerned with getting them...What is far more important than having holes in your keys is having a flute that's designed and built well. Assuming you're serious about flute, you most likely won't be able to buy a flute that will last forever at this point. As your playing develops (particularly your embouchure, but also your finger facility), you'll come to need different things out a flute, which one instrument bought at the beginning of the progression probably will not meet. As far as tone is concerned, that's related to the player far more than the flute. Having a top of the line instrument won't make you sound any better if you don't put in the work to get a great sound. I would suggest sticking with that student level flute you have for a while yet. When you start to actually feel held back by it, rather than going off the suggestion of a person with a questionable knowledge of the instrument, you can upgrade.
<Added>
Should read "I would take anything your first chair said with a grain of salt..."
and
"you'll come to need different things out of a flute..."
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