There's a video of Rick at SHOT Show (I forget which channel - maybe BladeHQ) that explains the change. He basically said they have had a number of warranty issues around lockbar problems, that either were expensive/difficult to fix, or couldn't be fixed without replacing the entire lock side. He said the lockbar insert will reduce their warranty costs and turnaround time.
He specifically mentioned problems caused by people batoning their XM-18s
I think it's easy to forget that the people on this forum aren't necessarily a representative sample of customers for a lot of these brands. Someone spending time reading about knives probably knows a lot more about use and maintenance than a typical customer, who'll abuse the hell out of a knife and then send it in expecting it to be fixed. I'm guessing this change is targeted more at those types of customers.
Yes it is Blade HQ. He mentions batoning, I have been lurking on these forums when it was boring in 1999 and it had almost no members. I was one of the first 300 people to buy a Busse Combat Battle mistress with the swedge. I know knives, Never trusted the Walker, liner, frame lock after both of my Microtech Socoms along with my brother in-laws all folded by spine whacking them and all failing in the palm of my hand. I was a Chris Reeve dealer, after The failure of the bar I just went to the stronger lock. I do want to try out a Gen 5 Hinderer though and will keep the batoning to my INFI.
