Provides good protection, but the hard plastic outer shell is a bit too smooth (it doesn't provide much grip)

They will and do occasionally crack and the hard plastic finish will start to deteriorate, but that's only after year or more of abuse.

When the phone is left in a extremely hot area, or in the sun, the hard plastic case's finish will crack and flake off, leaving you with bits of the case all over your hands and pockets.

furthermore the rubber layer that actually touches the phone is a very rigid plastic, it feels like it would not absorb much of any impact at all