Awesome. I'd been wanting a decent holster for my TRR8; I have a Blade-Tech, but it doesn't conceal well at all (holds it well, but reholstering isn't terribly smooth unless the lower rail is attached, but that isn't a problem for you M&P R8 folks). I'll have to get me one of those (actually, a couple, I have a M15 that needs one too).

As for the rest of the thread, mine came from the factory doing light strikes as well- I ended up sending it back (had some finish issues too). S&W had to back to me very quickly, I think it was under 2 weeks from when I sent it in to when I had it back. The problem was indeed the strain screw.

I have used a light on mine, but it's so far forward that it's hard to use. You don't want to go sticking fingers out past the front of the cylinder to activate it anyway.