Received my barebones black Ovale V8 this week from DiscountVapers, and---like most posters on this thread---I'm very pleased. The rubberized finish is nice, and the kicked up intensity of the vape (due, no doubt, to the way the PWM is implemented) is great.
The 2.5 amp limit won't be a problem. I don't use dual coil cartos anymore---I snipped the lead to one of the two
coils on all 40-or-so 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 ohm DCs in my stash, turning them into 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 ohm single coils---so I doubt that I'll ever get close to the 2.5 amp limit, given how hard the V8 hits when set at low voltages (3.0-4.0V). Even a SmokTech LR Resurrector 1.7 ohm carto at 3.4V (which is as high as I can imagine setting the V8's voltage at that resistance) uses only 2.0 amps.
I'm left-handed, but the right-handed design doesn't bother me at all. I don't wrap my fingers around the unit---my fingers naturally rest on the back with my pinky supporting the bottom and my thumb on the firing button. That's completely comfortable ergonomically for me (with either hand).
My battery door opens easily, but yes, the battery compartment is indeed a tight fit. AW imr 18350s go in easier, but I did get the slightly longer eFest imr 18350s from CrystalClearVaping to work after figuring out how to depress the spring with the battery off-center, which allows the top to slide in past the plastic housing.
I may not use my Madvapes and other similar VV boxes as much now. Setting and changing voltage on the V8 is so much easier with the voltage display and .1V up/down buttons. No more jewelers screwdrivers and screwing on an inline voltage meter. Sure, my Young-June Vtubes and Smoktech VMax also have easy-voltage-setting, but the size and feel of the V8 are preferable to me. No resistance checking on the V8, but I can use the Vtubes for that.
I did add two thin strips of sticky-backed felt cushion material on either side of the bottom to make the V8 more stable when standing upright (no more rocking).
For the price, the V8 is really hard to beat.