My late mother was the best splitter operator I ever had. She had a uncanny sense for retracting the ram to just clear what I was carrying over and new exactly when to advance it. Also I never felt the need to count my fingers like I do with my present helpers " OH !! Sorry dude" never came out of her mouth.
When the term "Dude" emits from their lips, for the safe of safety (which I have never been readily accused of carrying on to the excess of), one should probably eliminate them as a splitter lever operator. Just saying...