What's the intended use for the knife?
If you're doing anything that's likely to cause a lock to fail (i.e., putting stress on it in the closing direction when it's locked), then you're not using it properly.
There could be legitimate reasons for using a folding knife as something other than a non-folding knife, such as a pry bar, or forcing the tip into something hard, etc.
The article posted is on ETS, so you may be thinking of the knife as a survival tool.
The Axis lock is very strong. That said, you should STILL avoid using it as anything other than a folding knife.
As for reliability, not so much more reliable than any other folder. The only folding knife I've had malfunction -- ever -- is my Benchmade mini-grip.
The action relies on two omega springs, one on each side. When the springs break, the action doesn't lock. The blade also flops around when it's closed.
My omega springs went on my knife after about six months of normal use. No flipping it open, or other bone-head moves involved. Cut nothing tougher than corrugated cardboard. Sent it back. Got it back with new springs and pretty quickly.
Six months later, springs out again. Sent it back, got it back with a much more extensive list of work done, and it's been fine since then. I suspect one of the other bits inside were simply wearing against my springs and they replaced or worked on any possible culprits. Judging by everyone else's reports it was probably very much a fluke.
Benchmade has excellent customer service and backs up their products.
Folders are inherently less reliable than fixed blades, which is why most folks suggest fixed blades as a first pick for a survival knife. Simply because folders fold. On the other hand, almost any folder will do the job in a survival situation, provided it's of good quality. The big plus of the Axis lock here is that if it does fail for some reason, you can put a twig or something behind the bar to keep it locked open. I tried it when my springs were out and it works fine.
So, basically: It's a good lock, a great company, but I think because it does have extra failure points over other designs (the springs), it may have a very slightly higher chance to fail at any given day. Not enough to worry about, and if it does fail, you're OK if you have a twig or something else handy to jam in the lock.
