Hey Roger. I haven't heard about the Split second before, but I know a few places have cloned and/or improved the SS in recent years. I've had an SS for a few years now. It works well. What are the big improvements you found with the split second vs SS? Curious.
Yes, I sometimes have to hit wood extra times when it is really squirrely stuff. Rob, if somebody gave you a pile of crotches and gnarley stuff to split, I'd be more concerned about what it was you did to make that man angry rather than which splitter you have, since that isn't normal firewood.

Firewood is
normally a mix. You get a few crotches, and a lot of straight stuff. The SS is faster on the straight stuff, and then can need a couple hits on tougher stuff that a hydraulic would keep pushing through. Though you can stall either one. But if you are running 80-90% straight wood with some crotches thrown in (like you would expect in a normal mix), overall you certainly won't be any worse with a kinetic than a hydraulic.
And Roger - keep your hands off the round when splitting! Or at best only on top. A couple times there, you had your fingers over the edge... Keep all 10 intact!