[Galaxy Note 4 Accessories] mcmannion:
Light at the end of the tunnel

OK, I've been fiddling with the case for a while, and I'm leaning towards keeping it. I like its good features even more, now that I've had a chance to work with them (I'll post a broader review later in the week). And, to the topic at hand, the button covers have become borderline usable, albeit capricious. I don't know if it just takes a while for them to break in, or if it's the fact that the phone has been sitting next to the exhaust port on my laptop and the TPU is all warm and soft (as it will be after being in my pocket during regular use, if the bus girl in Ferris Bueller is any authority on the matter).

The decision now is whether to leave the inner case as-is, or to slice the button covers. I did an experiment using an old case, which I'll explain below.

To recap, the problem as I see it is that the button covers are too rigidly attached to the rest of the inner case. I'll include two sets of photos:

Photo set 1: Unadulterated DILEX Pro for Note 4 inner TPU case

Photo set 2: Modified Galaxy S4 one-piece TPU case

The first set is to illustrate the button issue, as best as I can with still photos. Even with the macro setting on my camera, it's hard to zoom in as closely as I can by just holding the case up to my eye. Still, I think you'll get the idea.

The second set shows my old S4 TPU case with 1) the volume button covers intact, and 2) with three sides of the power button cover severed from the rest of the case. I'd contemplated doing this years ago when I was actually using the S4 TPU case, but never wanted to wreck it, just in case it didn't work. In retrospect, I should have. Slicing the sides of the button makes it WAY more usable. The feel is great, and the attached edge is still firm enough to hold the button cover "flap" in place. I'm leaning towards doing the same with the DILEX Pro inner case - especially because it has the outer PC shell to help hold the flap in place and prevent it from getting loose / snagged over time. But, I'm going to chill overnight, and maybe for a few days, before doing anything rash (and forfeiting any possibility of returning this costly case for a refund, if I decide to go that way).

Here's the pics. Notice how well-attached the DILEX Pro (black) button covers are to the rest of the case. There is a gap on each of the short ends from the factory, but the long edges still have a LOT of contact:

[IMG="Power, outside"]http://i.imgur.com/h6l9WZm.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG="Volume, outside"]http://i.imgur.com/8XMsc8K.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG="Power, outside edge"]http://i.imgur.com/qO5FcRp.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG="Volume, outside edge"]http://i.imgur.com/KWYnkpO.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG="Power, inside"]http://i.imgur.com/9Hwqowy.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG="Volume, inside"]http://i.imgur.com/dv8KZ1y.jpg[/IMG]

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Now, here's the old S4 case. Firstly, observe how thin the "moat" is around the volume button covers. The material is noticeably thinner than the case or button covers themselves, allowing the button covers to move relatively independently of the rest of the case. They're still stiff, but acceptable.

Afterwards, see the power button cover, where I've cut around three sides to make it into a flap. It actuates very nicely when pressed, and even the relatively thin amount of TPU along the one remaining edge holds the flap firmly in place.

[IMG="Experimental case, unmodified volume buttons"]http://i.imgur.com/tZoM7Qk.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG="Experimental case, liberated volume button 1"]http://i.imgur.com/ymvgIgZ.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG="Experimental case, liberated volume button 2"]http://i.imgur.com/qVa1qMG.jpg[/IMG]

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I'll let you know if I decide to keep the DILEX Pro intact, cut it, or return it.