Well, all I can say is that my LMF rod is the softest I own and produces the most sparks - I wipe the striker from base to tip and get a true shower of sparks. The rod itself is now scored and grooved but still has many hundreds (if not thousands) of strikes left in it. It may be that even LMF have different rod products and properties of course.
I also favour the LMF over the others I own. It's the first ferrorod I bought and practiced on, and so is in an appalling state. Unfortunately, like yours, it still has plenty of life left in it!