People seem to be forgetting that a custom made XStylus, when closed, will be the same size and shape as whatever non-XStylus stylus might be used. It doesn't have to be opened to use it if you prefer the feel of a solid piece of plastic (and the XStylus, when closed, does feel pretty solid) and the design has only improved since the original run so I have full confidence that Elton has learned to make it stronger and less prone to breakage.
Granted if you aren't opening it you aren't taking advantage of the benefits it tries to bring to the table, whether those things are actually useful to you personally or not is pretty moot at that point.
Personally I do like the wider grip of the XStylus. I ended up not using mine so much because it didn't give enough of an extension, starting out so short: I would have preferred if Elton had produced the DS stylus as intended so it could have been so much longer but understand the business reason he switched to the 3DS.
If something the size of the Pandora stylus were then increased by 60% via XStylus flip that would make it a much more comfortable length in my opinion.
So to summarize my points:
1) The XStylus has features that some people would find useful
2) It doesn't need to be opened, if you don't like the features it will happily stay closed and locks fairly tightly to prevent accidental opening, making it for all intents and purposes just like a standard plastic stylus.
Therefore, all other things being the same, the XStylus makes the most sense to please the most people: either you want the features and you use them or you don't want the features and don't use them.
Of course all things are not the same. How much will the XStylus cost? What will it be made of? What other options are there for a standard stylus?
The XStylus can very easily be made with a metal core giving it some extra weight, but a non-extending stylus can be made with an entirely metal shaft giving it even more heft. Are either of those things options in this case and what are the cost differences?
I can't think of a single reason to dismiss the XStylus outright. Please investigate, find out what the cost breakdown will be and then ask people whether the extra buck or two (I'm guessing) is worth it.
