Chiagoo needles

Has anyone else tried these?

I got them on the strong recamendation of my local LYS goddess and I can't stand them. I've been knitting some booties for a teacher of mine and they just make it so hard.

They are imprinted with "new laser technology" so that the number never wears off, but the yarn keeps getting caught in the little laser grooves.

Is it just me, or are they all like this?