I have had my new XD-s for a couple of weeks now and have put 220 rounds thru it with no failures of any kind. I am extremely happy with this gun. It is at least as much fun to shoot as my Colt 1911 and much easier to carry. I haven't had any issues handling this gun. Recoil seems no worse than my Ruger LC9, maybe even a little better. I'm not sure why some have had sore hands. The best compliment I can give this gun is that it shoots well and doesn't draw my attention to anything but the target. I don't notice recoil, trigger or any handling problems. That means it feels totally natural to me and my focus is only on the target. I don't have to think about anything else.
My first 5 shots at 5 yards:
100 rounds at 7 yards:
Striker after 220 rounds: