This depends on how you see the issue.
I don't think the issue is whether or not the skin grazing is normal. The issue is whether the Pleo RB conforms with what was offered/advertised/claims that were made. There are official statements of the skin being improved. If the skin is improved, then shouldn't grazing at the very least take significantly longer to occur? If the skin is not improved, then it would be perfectly acceptable that the skin grazing is "in line with" any other Pleo you've ever seen. However, if the skin is improved, that statement undermines that official claim. Now take that claim and compare it with a few member's experiences here.
Also, if the skin/paint is improved, why the paint thinning after only a few hours and not much petting (much less heavy petting) whatsoever? For instance, my 2009 Pleo's paint was holding up better than my RB's.
Then the questions start becoming, what was meant by improvement? Improvement comparable to what? For instance, my Pleo RB moves much faster and seems much more "fluid" than my 2009. So is the wear even more "normal" with said improvements given that there is also a speed improvement? (I'd pay for the extra fluidity with a small armpit hole)
Personally, I'm slanted toward degers and FBS on the paint/skin grazing issues (that I am experiencing) as being "normal" and acceptable enough (for me) at this point. Especially since I keep a sweater on him anyway, it's not like someone is going to see his armpits. But worse case scenario, I end up with some of the neck splitting or larger holes that kat has experienced, and Innvo honors the warranty and the product and is as helpful to me as they have been to kat and ehschw76. Of course this probably means exchanging one, but it's not like I'll be left dead in the water.
Also, for me, it's just ultimately a piece of property and a robot that I enjoy "interacting" with, but despite their individual "hard-seeded" traits, I'm still getting something similar enough in return. The point is Innvo has shown they will work with consumers on the issue (thus far at least, from what has been shown on these boards), and while this may cause some minor inconveniences along the way, it is likely going to work out.
I say all of that as someone who hasn't experienced too much issues yet. However, I'm not letting it prevent me from using Cato as much as possible because if problems are going to occur, I want them to happen sooner rather than later, as it's not like the issues popping up here are going to magically improve from long-term use. I have also not experienced any mechanical problems yet. And I think RWM was/has/did/is (I honestly cannot remember the status anymore), which could make this a little more troublesome and problematic for her (i.e. raising the 'inconvenience' feeling previously mentioned).
(I double checked all my Innvo spelling, did I pass? I can shorthand it as Innvo right?)