I've actually had all of the problems you described with a RCBS FL die- sometimes you just get a bad die, doesn't matter what color of box they come in-unless its a redding.
I have several dies sets from RCBS and Lee and I've had problems with Lees too- especially the collet dies.

I have the opinion that RCBS equipment is overrated- I have a case trimmer that doesn't cut straight, a set of 7.5x55 swiss dies that are cut too tight for for the rifles I reload for, and an expensivepowder measure that's a real PITA to use with extruded powderswhere a $20 Lee measure does the job perfectly. I've compared RCBS presses with Redding presses side by side in stores, for the same price the Redding is far better made, the lee is about as well made as the RCBS for 1/2 the price.

I've recenty discovered Redding dies as well, those will be the dies I mostly buy in the future.