Camelbak's "Podium" Water Bottles

I was really excited when I saw Camelbak was coming out with cycling water bottles - a new bottle called the "Podium". As soon as I found them at my local shop, I snatched up two of them, and started using them on road bike rides. And that's when the disappointment set in. I am a HUGE Camelbak fan, I think their bladders, bite valves, and packs are head and shoulders above the rest, and I've tried a fair number of others. I also love their "Better Bottle" which I use pretty much every day, plus these rock for traveling. But, the Podium has been nothing but a disappointment. The flow on them is terrible. The bottles themselves are pretty stiff/hard, so they are much harder to squeeze and make your drink come out quickly, as compared to regular cycling water bottles (or specifically as compared to Specializeds current bottles). Also, the bite valve thing is different than the usual Camelbak, and for me just doesn't work as well. The simple fact is you just can't get water out of these as fast and effectively as a regular cycling water bottle, and well, that makes it inferior. I've tried the bottles several times, thinking I had something wrong, or maybe it would break in with use or what not, but no. So, they've been sidelined. The one good thing I have to say is that the locking mechanism is great, and truly keeps fluid from leaking out, unliked regular bottles that, even with the spout closed still seem to be able to leak a bit. Maybe I will try Camelbak's "Performance Bottle", which looks sort of like a combo between the Podium and Better bottles - having the regular Camelbak bit valve, but in what looks like it might be a compatible shape for a water bottle cage.