Yeah a designer friend told me something similar about leather textures on a fitness app. Sounded tough but just made the interface feel heavy and slow to users.

Actually, I kinda doubt the chickens learned a game. More likely they just figured out hiding their eggs keeps you from taking them (smart birds, really). Mine started stashing them under the porch bushes all on their own.

What kind of knife were you using for the scratch test? I've had different results with a cheap pocket knife versus a steel file. Also, ever use the back of a ceramic tile from a hardware store as a streak plate instead of carrying an actual one?

Wet curing? Didn't help mine at all.