Retention is a VERY important issue, but are concerns over civilian legal open carry overblown or abused as a tool used against the open carry in a political manor?
Both.
I am unsure if we can categorize the armed robbery in the same way as an unarmed “grab” from the holster event.
Totally different motive. Armed robbery is interested in a wallet full of money, credit cards, perhaps access to one's car. If they were interested in murder, they wouldn't hold you up; they'd simply kill you and take the plunder. An unarmed grab is usually motivated by a warped psyche.
Is retention important? Absolutely. In fact, if you think your OC'd firearm is going to keep itself in your holster against a determined gun-grabber, even with a level 3 retention holster, think again.
Here are three steps to get you started:
1. Keep your eyes peeled, including your six (behind you), at all times. If someone's eyeing you funny, make and keep eye contact, but put some distance between you. If they start following, contact the store manager, law enforcement, or simply leave the area.
2. The moment you detect a grab, push down on your firearm into it's holster with all the force you have. Use BOTH hands. For the average 150-lb person, that'll be 200 lbs the grabber will have to overcome.
3. Twist towards the grabber, towards the same side as your firearm. If the gun is to your right, twist right. Instinct says twist away, but then you're pulling against their pull, and they can pull a lot harder than they can push. Twisting into your firearm also imparts some serious leg-driven torque against which they'll be extremely hard-pressed to counter with their arms. Towards the end of your twist, step back with the same foot as your gun (gun right, then right foot back), and if necessary stiff-arm block the grabber with your left hand, sort of a hard, open-handed punch/shove, with your right hand still pressing your firearm as firmly in your holster as possible.
At this point, with a lot of practice and some luck, you're back to a non gun-grab, close-quarters hostile situation.
If you're serious about learning more, or about how your local law enforcement does it, or what additional measures they incorporate (blocking, grappling), please contact them.
So far I have yet to see any successful “grab and go or grab and use” attempt, are there any points any of you can give us to events?
Aside from the above 3 points, nope.