I have had two automatics. I like them. I suppose my main negatives are the expense and the remorse I had when one was stolen and I lost the other. Both were Benchmades. I now have a flipopen SOG that is virtually as quick to open and is just as good a knife for a fraction the cost. And while it might not be as "cool," for the same reason it is probably less likely to be swiped. I'm not kidding, I was in grief twice over those knives.