I got mine a couple days ago and it is getting smoother and easier to open. Part of it is just getting passed the soreness of my fingers, but it is definitely loosening up the more I open and close it. However, I took it apart and polished to washers and also bent the lock bar back just a little bit so there's just enough room for it to lock up. I don't think the lock will wear over very much but if it does, it won't quite fully engage. If this happens and I get a little lock rock, it is easy enough to just bend it over a little more. The combination of reducing some of the spring tension on the lock and polishing the washers has made it quite a bit easier to open. Before, I couldn't even come close to middle finger flicking it. I could put every bit of strength I had into it and not break the detent, but now I can flick it. Thumb flicking it is actually harder because you need to give it a little wrist at this point, but at least it's possible now. I can also spydie drop it pretty easily now, and it was very difficult before. So it's definitely much better. I still need to fix one little thing that bothers me, which is a problem with all Taichung Spyderco's, and that's that the thumb hole is very sharp. Not a big deal and an easy fix. I thought the knife was cool at first, but now it's starting to feel like it's "mine" and I am liking it a lot. So unique and cool and sturdy as hell.