Pruning with a helper about 7 working months a year all day long I’ve been using ARS hand pruners for at least a decade now, I think. I don’t twist the tool when I cut but I cut a lot of thick diameter wood for a hand pruner. My helper and I have never damaged this tool in all that time except when I’ve dropped the thing on ice on a very cold day (the type we haven’t had for a while, in the single digits)- that did snap the tip, and I’ve done it twice. Another time I accidentally clipped at a piece of strong wire and the blade chipped then as well.
You are right that there’s a price to pay for such hard steel. It also takes a good sharpening tool and a bit more effort than sharpening the relatively soft steel of a Felco.
However, I’ve recommended the tool to many of my gardening friends as well as people on this forum, and I’ve yet to hear of anyone chipping or damaging a blade.
Anyone?
If you do damage the blade they are very expensive to replace and somewhat dangerous to do. It really isn’t worth the effort- just buy a new tool.