The tube fed levers are here to stay and nobody seems to mind them being loaded that way.
Except for all the others (on other forums etc.) who state the only reason they will NOT own a Henry is because of the tube load system - and it is a sizable number of people who say this.
Obviously Henry realizes this also or they wouldn't have fielded side gate loaders.
However while the idea of the side gate coupled with retaining the the tube load system seems like a great idea I am afraid a similar problem MIGHT be encountered similarly with the current tube system and that is with the rims of cartridges 'catching' on the inner tube as loading rounds is being accomplished.
The inner tube reduces the inside diameter of the load tube and if the mouth of the inner tube is left 'square' rims of the cartridges will no doubt catch on the mouth of the inner tube and POSSIBLY cause sticking of the rounds being loaded.
This is not a problem on other traditional side gate loading rifles as there is only one tube as a magazine with nothing for the rounds to catch or hang up on.