^ Yep. That's the same reason why many, including Michale Janich, preached the need for people who intend to use folding knives for SD to practice various opening/locking techniques, including those which are silent. That sound of a gun clearing a Kydex holster is definitely unmistakable, to anyone who's heard it before.
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It really all depends, and it depends on quite a number of unique variables: your body shape/anatomy, your chosen carry position, your chosen carry firearm, your car-seat's adjustments, etc. - not to even mention the specific design parameters of the holster itself.
I'm a big fan of leather, and prefer leather or hybrid holsters for IWB carry. But you know what? I'll be damned if my Kahr PM9/Garrett Silent Thunder Slim II combo isn't one of my most comfortable holster setups, particularly for extended driving sessions.
As for noise? My PureKustom Black Ops Pro, my true-EDC holster, "pops" the gun in and out, just like my Raven Phantom: this is something that Rocky and many of PureKustoms' customers and fans are quite proud of. :wink: And again going back tothe Silent Thunder, the leather lining of that particular full-hardshell Kydex holster means that it's just that - silent on the draw and holster strokes.
Leather holsters collapsing after the weapon has been withdrawn? A good leather holster - OWB or even IWB - should not and will not do that. Many custom holster-makers take great pains to demonstrate this capability of their works. Alas, a holster is a consumable item, particularly leather: at some point, they will wear out - they will collapse. When that day comes (and different people using different holsters differently means that there's huge variability in this, too), it's simply time to get a replacement and move on.
The "profile" of the holster?
Again, this is something that depends highly on the holster (including its set-up on the wearer) as well as the firearm. A full-sized 1911 may need to be carried with a steeper cant angle, in order to make sure that the muzzle tucks up underneath your cover clothing. But to say that all Kydex/polymer holsters are bulky and don't conceal well, particularly OWB? anyone who has tried a Raven Concealment or similar (I'm just naming the one that more people are likely to know, but there's plenty of other such makes out there) knows just how well they can conceal, even under just a light T-shirt. Just as leather holsters can be made into "pancakes" and hug the body, riding high and tight, so can polymer holsters. It's just a matter of finding the right holster for your needs - "duty" holsters made for open wear on a police-officer's duty-belt certainly will present a huge bulge away from the body, if you plan to only throw a T-shirt over it...that's as simple as having selected the wrong tool for your work, period. :smile: