Very practical. The minimalist design makes it beautiful and compact, yet practical and easy to use. Most of the time I find myself without a measuring tape when I need it. This is usually because most of them are bulky and difficult to carry. This is small and light enough to carry in your pocket. I like the diameter scale on the back. This is handy because I often work with and inspect pipes. "Touch lock" is stupid. In fact, there is no castle. You just hold it open with the handle and it will retract when you release your grip. This is not a lock. It's just called having fingers. Despite this marketing silliness, it's still a handy tool. Time will tell if the plastic construction will hold up over time but I agree with the weight reduction that the plastic gives me so it's a compromise I agree and this tool is inexpensive enough to replace, if i manage to break it Fail. It's not that plastic isn't used for tape measures anymore, but in my experience clear plastic is more brittle and prone to cracking. This plastic seems to be a bit more durable than regular polycarbonate, so maybe it's more durable as well. Feels like quality for everything.