Honestly, if the heat gun trick will work i dont see it as too big a deal. It just seems silly that, as a whole everyones agreed that the guard needed to be either removed or reinforced. Dont know why why this was left alone and that the choil was redesigned.
Im sure the new choil is much more comfortable but how many people complained about it before? and THATS what was altered and not the guard.

seems silly to have to mod a new knife but my knives are tools and will be treated as such. When teh guard gets messed up ill post about modification with the heat gun and trying to remold it.