At one time I liked the way the mini-Grips looked. I handled one in a store and just didn't care for the axis lock very much. Personal preference I guess. I didn't even think about the mechanism inside (little springs) at the time, but hearing about that now makes me feel better about not buying that mini-Grip. I got a Spyderco lockback instead. I've always wondered if the mini-Grip might have been a good choice too, since so many people seem to like them. But that "little springs" thing gives me pause...
Everything is a trade off. While there are springs, they aren't a direct load bearing part of the mechanism, and as Doug points out, there are redundant springs, and if it really came down to it, you can lodge something in the mechanism.
The upside is a very ambi, and more importantly, one-handed ambi friendly knife with a very strong mechanism.
My previous EDC was a Sebbie, and the ultra simplistic, titanium framelock certainly is a rugged mechanism (albeit hollow ground blade).
But... One day someone on the forums was talking about being injured and needing to use his knife off-handed and one handed.
I decided to try it out. While I can use the Sebbie effectively one handed... off-handed and one handed... um, notsomuch. In fact, it is downright difficult to use in this mode.
I figured in an emergency, this is a significant handicap.
My current EDC is a full sized DR M2 Grip, and I'm very happy with it. Not as cool as the Sebbie, but very well rounded.
Of course, a backup is a good idea anyway, and I suppose you could carry a lefty and a righty.
In the end, we are lucky we have the choices we do and one choice certainly isn't for everyone. But I've started to think about all survival my tools and how effectively I could use them one handed, and off handed. Interesting the things that crop up.
-john