Well having the same mags is definitely a benefit. I don't use the safety when I shoot my partner's Shield, but he is considering it because he sometimes carries the Dan Wesson CBob so the same manual of arms can be used. I should note though that he recently bought an XDm 3.8 Compact in 9mm which could become his year-round carry. If my XDM had a manual safety, which none do, I wouldn't use it, but it would not bother me one little bit being on the pistol. You can get an XD with a manual safety still, I believe.