I bought this case specifically because I wanted something that would protect my 8700 at all times. Quite honestly, I have yet to see any other case that compares with this one in terms of protection.I've used soft cases before - on my Nokia cell phone - and found them to be mediocre at best. Corners are left exposed and if you drop your phone from a height of more than two feet you've likely scratched or damaged your phone. Many of the other hard cases for Blackberry tend to be the slip in and out kind. You take the phone out and it's not protected. Problem is, when you go to make that call or send that message that's exactly the time you might drop your phone. If that ever happens to you, this is the case you'll want for your Blackberry.Perhaps the biggest misconception about this case is the description of "aluminum" and "metal." Buyers will think hard, and heavy with sharp edges. Not so at all. This is lightweight aircraft aluminum that feels almost like plastic. There are no sharp edges. Inside there's a thin layer of dense foam-like material that separates the Blackberry from the metal. The screen is protectived by a thin form of plexiglass. Unfortunately, this glass needs a screen protector as it does get scratched. The keyboard space is open which seems the only choice given how dense the keypad is and how difficult it would be to use it with any kind of protective plastic cover.I only have a couple of small complaints. One, I wish the clasp on the left side was more secure. I have dropped my phone once already and the case did flip open because of this. Two, I wish there was more protection on the top side. Also, to a lesser degree, I wish there was more open space on the right side so that it was easier to access the scroll wheel.The case comes with a belt clip. You can also just use the case by itself without the clip attachment and slip it into a soft case or your pocket.Overall, while it's a bit pricey for a small case, it's worth the extra money over the typical soft models that offer only the appearance of protection for your expensive Blackberry.