I beg to differ on ALL of that.. The build quality of the 900's will never be as solid as the 800's. With fuel economy requirements and such, the thinner and lighter materials make it impossible. In my opinion, the 800 series trucks are the best trucks GM has put out to date.
Mine doesn't work in the driver's side either, and I know it's a genuine GM key. Something in the cylinder just isn't lining up right because if I wiggle it around, it'll unlock sometimes.