Doug

I have not "used" a RMK with finger grips. By this I mean, skinning a deer, cleaning a fish or something similar. Therefore I can't comment on how they work, if the handle was wet/slippery.
Grain wise, you get a much better exposure/area with finger grips. There is more surface of the wood exposed and the indent of the grips themselves can change the graining of the wood. I agree nice wood generally looks better with finger grips. I have also had an instance where I thought I had a great block of wood, but when I got the knife back from RMK, the wood was not as nice as I had expected. I had thought the swirls, lines would go right through the wood, but it was not to be.
I am a lousy photographer, so I can not help you there with the light on the different angles.