If the wife is happy, it is definitely a WIN.
Coupla things. Mags are easy to load with an Uplula or similar, so stiff mags are hardly an issue in my book.
You are both experienced shooters, but with the lightweight S&W, could limp wristing have been a factor, being an unfamiliar gun, and new at that?
I'm glad ya'll are so happy with it. IF you get the failures ironed I'd like to hear back. An awful lot of people have complained about the S&W, so I'm really glad that you are having good luck, especially if you can iron out the bugs.