My DSA has the sand cuts, and the only time its failed has been when I'm futzing with the gas system. I don't have one without sand cuts, so I can't say whether its reliable because of those cuts or not. However, the FAL is an incredibly rugged rifle with a reputation of reliability (go over to FALfiles and search for 'ol dirty) like an AK built with western finesse. I have the feeling that no civilian that pays DSA-level money for a rifle will ever put it through conditions that would require sand cuts to keep the rifle functioning.