you're right on that....after being disappointed at first, it's growing on me a little. It doesn't look too much like bubinga (Just not a huge fan of the bubinga look - on too many chinese tools, etc), it's harder than bubinga by a fair amount, and takes a really great polish.
It's just bonkers hard, though (about the same as verawood) ,and I wonder if there's a limit based on feel/vibration. I use a urethane mallet, so it'll never really bother me.
Not hard to find for about $4 a handle (Which will sound a lot to folks using 8/4 beech or something to make handles, but not bad for a straight grained exotic). If I have my way, I"ll make about 20 sets of file chisels, and get a chance to see what the handles look like in sets. This disappointed at first because I was looking for deep reddish brown, and that's what it looks like when heavily waxed on the surface and oxidized.