I bounced a soft old DF Ball on it and it left a seam mark. Yes it does need knocking in. Done 15-20 mins so far, just light tapping.
GarrettJ - tricky to compare the two unless they are side by side. The H4L, from what I've seen of Distinctions, has a bigger edge profile and similar spine height. You're right though, it sits in a very nice price segment with no challengers and M&H could be losing some business in 2013. Performance wise I don't think a comparison can be made until the end of the 2013 season and even then you would of had to use both bats to make such an opinion. Being a H4L I'm sure it will perform.