Yes but as Dave has eluded to, it is usually because of a lack of pressing in the toe (and more recently I've noticed it in the top half of the bats)This is something I'm start to notice even in the TON bats for the UK market. The toes are extremely soft and take an age to knock in, a process which reverses a great deal of the intended bow effect. As I said I have also noticed this lack of press to create a bow in the top half of the bats too, I have a very distinct example in the shop I'll post pictures on Monday.
I knock all my bats with a mallet so it doesn't matter. If the bat performs sooner, then I am ok if the toe is soft. I can't wait for a hard-pressed-table-top of a bat to open a year later. It is just not worth it.
That's fine, and I agree with you although I did wait many months for my laver to come to life and it was definitely worth it