We all make our own choices, but to me, nothing is more pathetic than an inexperienced shooter trying to clear a jammed gun. A revolver in good condition will fire reliably, you can power down the rounds or use a heavier gun to tame the recoil, and perceived recoil can be overcome with moderate training. The shot may or may not be quite as a accurate from a small revolver, but you do get to shoot. A jammed gun (or even activated safety) at the wrong time may be "game over" particularly for the inexperienced. A firearm with a known cycling problem in the hands of someone who seldom practices is probably not a good idea, the rookies, often but not always women, coming to CHL qualification with their new semi-automatic handguns has made that clear to me. You know that many will not fire the gun again until re-qualification.
Having said that I have put several hundred rounds through a friends S&W 380 EZ with no problems and it was an accurate range gun. I question the value of weakening the springs to make magazines easier to load. I also would prefer a heavier round for self defense, but we all make our own choices, and the gun that you will have with you when you need it is the gun you should carry.
