You know...I see 4+1 listed for a few different 14" shotguns, and my experience is that they are actually always 5+1.
Bare in mind, the Escort and Optima are the same gun though. My Optima is a little bit nicer than my Escorts, but its an early import with a laser etched OPTIMA name.
Also I don't mean to downplay the Defender either. Its a great gun. The heatsheild is thin and will dent when/if impacted. It does not move and looks good, so flimsy probably wasn't the right description. The Defender stock is also nice and is sturdy. Recoil pads on these can vary from poor to passable, so look at that too.