I prefer most all of the changes on the Gen 4 (liners, screws, 4 way clip especially) but do miss the more acute point on the Gen 3 that you mention. I think they could do a run of the old version since that handle style is still used on the Salt models but, absent some serious groundswell of...
In part because Benchmade set it that way to begin with via the MSRP. Like Dave mentioned, it is artificially induced to a certain degree.
That said, there is more work in the handle and hardware of the -81 than there is in the version you have. I wouldn't consider it to be several hundred...
CRK Umnumzaan is probably my top dog. Green Manix 2 has been seen good carry since I got it almost a month ago. The UKPK and Waved Delica always work their way in too. I can only go so long before wanting to use them.
Begg Tree Frog sees the most use among fixed blades.