yes, my feelings exactly. i didn't think these cartos would have primer, or whatever that was, either ... and it hasn't happened since then.
in a little over a month, i've opened 6 emdcc's and finally tossed 4 of them but not before doing some investigation (am saving the batting). anyway, here's a possible useful tip that's probably covered somewhere in cartos 101, but i haven't noticed anything about it regarding the emdcc's, and i've definitely begun to be more serious in observing this with these great cartos (i ruined an emdcc in less than a day last week):
i now spend a little more time making sure the center hole in the batting doesn't become closed and cut off air flow (especially after overfilling and even dry vaping). if i check this about every time i top off or refill, and use my straightened-out, handy-dandy pc paper clip tool (a large safety pin works, too), it really seems to help. i'm using both small and large straightened paper clips. the center hole on one carto became too closed to be able to get the larger pc tool inside without damaging the coils, so i started with the smaller pc tool and was able to slowly waggle it in to widen the hole enough to successfully insert the larger pc tool. it is also possible that you might damage the coils doing this, so use your own judgement. so far, this has only improved the way my emdcc's work and also their lifespan.
