I find that a piece of bicycle inner tube works great for additional gripping feel without having to make any permanent changes. Might want to give it a try.
After a couple thousand rounds it should be ok to use it as a slide release. I don't use it as such but, even with these old arthritic paws, I can if I wanted to. Now have over 10K rds and it is very very easy.
Same here, trigger does start to get better after 2000/3000 rounds and continues to get better. Now at 9000+...........works for me. Would not think of replacing it.