Hey Bob...If I may.

The ones we both got last year are definitley different. The new ones are MUCh more durable and don't break nearly as easily. That was one of the biggest downfalls IMO of the early ones. Everyone would kinda chuckle when they saw them...so I'd start smacking them them together to shut them up and I'd break 1/2 doz a week without trying.The new ones have been impregnated with a nylon polymer and WILL still break but they take MUCH more abuse than last years.

The "X" is a good idea though IMO. Cool thing is...if you have issues you can go straight to the man that makes them and he'll try to accomodate.