I run the 'new' hubs and suspect the people complaining about them don't know how to use a cone wrench. Mine came tight from the factory and since adjustment have ran sliky smooth. I really can't imagine what problem you can have with them once they're setup right.
I'm pretty darn good with cone wrenches and I've had problems with the undersized cartridge bearings surviving(6901 bearings are
not hub bearings Surly). Heck the stock ones on the front were already screwed up when it(the hub) was new in the packaging. Figured a trick to them since then and haven't had problems, set and locked in the driveside threaded on shoulder and fixing nut then putting into the hub then getting it set on the non-drive side. They've gone from junk in my book, to just meh.