Wow. This case is such a disappointment. I was hoping to be proven wrong this entire time, but holy **** was I right.
Positives:
+It's waterproof.
Negatives:
-Gone is the wonderful sensitivity of the bare-glass screen. You need to push the plastic cover to make contact with the screen.
-The plastic screen protector is essentially the cheap same material as a plastic blister pack that you'd get when you purchase a stapler.
-The volume buttons are jokingly difficult to press. The power button is slightly easier to press.
-When I'm using speakerphone, the recipient hears an awful echo/tunnel effect of their own voice. I've tried the solution they've recommended of... get this..... putting your mouth over the microphone grill area and blowing. I'm not joking.
-If you touch the case phone during speakerphone, the recipient hears a crazy amplified version of the contact you make with the case.
-Watermark/oil effect. If you do manage to press the plastic screen cover close enough to the screen to allow decent sensitivity, you get an awful watermark/oil effect. Their solution (and their fangirls on facebook) is to clean the phone and screen protector until you drop dead. Mine was pristine clean (wore gloves and used eyeglass cleaner on the phone).
-I didn't think the audio could sound much worse considering the one little speaker on the iphone. I sure was wrong. All of the sound is directed towards the rear of the case and just sounds odd/muffled.
-It's $70.
I think you got a little carried away with the negativity. No, I am not a fanboy.
First of all, you lose VERY VERY little sensitivity, if any. The screen protector settles down nearly completely flush with the screen in less than a week. All you have to do is place your palm on the screen and close the charge port door, releasing any trapped air. After doing this a couple of times it flattens itself out. I have not had an issue since a day or 2 after I got my case.
The screen protector is a screen protector. What did you expect? What other cases have you seen that have an integrated screen protector that's of better quality? Certainly not the Otterbox.
Yes, the volume buttons are annoyingly hard to press. This bothers me.
I just called my girlfriend on speakerphone and yes, she said she hears an annoying echo, but not using speakerphone calls are very clear. As for touching the case, it's noticeable she said but nothing really annoying.
I cleaned my phone using a dry cloth only, no gloves or anything, and the inside of the case as well. I have 1, maybe 2 very tiny water/oil marks. Not enough to bother me.
I'm not a fan of the sound output either. It's not better like they said it would be but honestly I would rather have the standard speaker.
Now for your water test issue. How else do you expect to test a waterproof case of any sort? There's just no way to do it without, at some point, having to break the seal to put your device in. The water test is a test of the integrity of the case. If it worked during the initial test, then it will work once you put your phone in, assuming you aren't handicapped and can push 2 halves together and visually look that there are no gaps.
I have a $200 waterproof case that houses a $200 digital camera. I take this diving with me to depths up to 125ft. How else can I test it to ensure it works properly? Sure I can take it down without the camera, but at some point I am going to have to open it back up to put the camera in. It's something you're going to have to have faith in. I'm all ears if you have a better idea on how to test the functionality of a waterproof case.
Once again, I am not a fanboy, and I obviously have similar complaints about the case as well, but some of your claims don't make sense, or you just jumped to a conclusion.
I for one am happy that I can take my phone out on our boat, get fish guts all over my hands, grab my phone to take a picture, and then rinse it off after.
