Patrick,I subscribe to your spring theory.  Lately I have switched from copper to,aluminum.  Mainly because of elasticity of the metal.  I feel like it will build up force and really shoot that flake across the face.  I now have a indirect precursor , Ishi stick, amd a couple pressure flakers made from aluminum.  If you want to try some they sell a 3ft by 1/4in rod  at Lowes for 3$.  Hammer the tip for pressure flakers, because it looses it's point fast if ya don't.