Do they look weird? If you’re used to a classic old school folder then yes. Some people find the ergonomics a bit uncomfortable in the forward grip but, in my opinion they did a great job utilizing otherwise useless real estate, and it’s functional. When you need to choke up, you can. What makes this knife a real joy is the deployment (Spydie flick) and closing. Once you get used to the Spydie flick and compression lock, it’s hard not to love. Fast, smooth, intuitive, safe, and easy. Now, this doesn’t have anything to do with this model but, I think it’s very important to mention. Heat treatment. Spyderco is absolutely at the very top of their game when it comes to heat treatment, regardless of the steel type. FANTASTIC. I’ve been collecting for about 6 years and I’ve got well over $10,000 invested in knives. I’ve got a lot of them, and I still carry a Para 3 more than any other knife. Price isn’t bad either, and they’re always available. Thanks for reading all of this lol. Final thoughts…if you’re on the fence, BUY IT, USE IT, and see for yourself