glad to know im not imagining the flavor reduction! Yeah, ive also read about restricting air flow, but for the price of the protank, I didnt plan on having to make ANY modifications!
Ya know?
Yeah, I know how you feel. Unfortunately, its not like buying an appliance or anything that even after first use can be returned if its not 100% what you wanted/expected, although sometimes the price feels that way. Most places only exchange anything related to hygiene if its DOA, (rarely refund but just send a working replacement). So far I have been able to return batteries I did not like, for that reason, but anything else - if it works - I am stuck with, I understand the reason - it can't go back and resold to someone else and is not broken so can't be sent back for credit to the wholesaler or manufacturer.
This is why I try not to rush out and buy something because the majority raves about it or it becomes the next best 'have to have' but try to concentrate on what individual reviewers have to say about it. I am not looking, most times, for a reviewer to like or dislike it but a comment like 'airy draw' would have me steer clear of it. I have faith that few people buy just because it seems everyone else has and usually puts more time into reviews that say more then "I love it!". Give me one good review that talks about the things that are important to me even if I see no other posts about people buying it I usually will. Show me 1000 "can't wait for mine to arrive" or "I love it" posts that say nothing about why they cannot wait to get it or why the say they love it; substance in a review not total emotion are the ones that fly.
Of course reviews are often subjective too, and can only take you so far. Even if you think you have dialed it in there is the problem that sometimes once its out of the wrapper its disappointing and/or not what you expected or just does not make you happy from the first use.
So that leaves messing with what you have bought to get it your way so to make it useful to you you have to choice but to do things like stick toothpicks in hole. And there you are with the feeling that you should not have to fiddle with it to give you what you want after spending that much money one it.
If you don't mod it to make it usable, unfortunately, its joining a junk pile in your drawer, not getting used under any circumstances and your out the money without any use. To me it comes down to realizing that even though i tried not to buy something that would not work for me, better some ideas how to adjust it so the money is not entirely a loss.
This is where a local retailer comes in handy, if your local to have such. Some accessories are so badly pictured across the reviews you can really get a good look at those things that might tell you won't work for you. Video and text review (even with close ups) only go so far so its nice to be able to walk in a storefront and be able to look at it live, and hold it. I have done that and that alone has changed my mind on whether I was going to purchase or not; just looking does not mean you have to buy it there as some retailers mark up a great deal (not the case with my retailer but I know some of you are faced with that). In some cases my retailer has even had open ones to try - with the rest of your own set up.
But it just comes down to, no matter what you do your going to lay out money, and sometimes a hefty amount, for something that after first use you look at and pronounce "not for me and I won't use it again!" Changing that to "not for me and I won't use it again unless I can mod it in someway so I am happy with!" at least can give it a chance for life in the "accessories I like" box and hurt your pocketbook less.
Just like in this case. I didn't pre-order or jump right in with the 'can't wait to have it' and waited for what started being said other then 'got it today and love it' and started seeing more reviews that commented on the airy draw (good for some not for others) got me thinking that it was not for me. Then when I started seeing people having to come up with mod to overcome that airy draw I knew for sure it was not for me - I really hate an airy draw. So knowing that I did not buy it just to have to mod it. Just because its seems like one of those things no self respecting modder would not have in their accessories - I can still be a vapor and not have one

and not have to mod it at that price.