RE: picked up a S&W SW9VE today
I have one of these and so far after several hundred rounds have had no issues with it at all. Never had the slide issue you mentioned either. The trigger did losen a touch over time.
On holsters well the Blackhawk line does not come in any model for the SW9VE. Infact I haven't found a good holster yet for it. I know Fobus makes some and a few others but haven't found any that I truely like compared to the Blackhawks.