Pete,
For the reason you mention I always have the vector grid in, it's a lot softer if there's a jam than the table itself. Also, it's not too bad to replace, mine was worn on the left side from a lot of vector cutting so that nothing thin like Rowmark 1/16 would lie flat, only $40 for a new honeycomb and got it the next day. Of course those new ones with the vaccum table don't have a vector grid.