Originally Posted by garage sale GT

Sure, they feel smooth when the skewers are loose, but I have had new Ultegra hubs feel a bit lumpy.

Sometimes it's hard to tell because if the cones are properly adjusted, there is clearance when the quick release is out, and the rubber seals are what is supporting the axle.

I always check my cone adjustment by clamping washers in my quick release, so I know how an axle feels when it's at its working clearance. (then I readjust the quick release skewer to start to close at the same place in its lever swing when I put it in the bike, so the different thickness of the washer stack vs the fork dropout don't throw everything off.)