Croatian AK-47 Bolt Hold Open Magazines 

BHO is an advantage the shooter will have. Normally you must pull the trigger on an empty chamber before you realize the AK is empty, then go through the normal mag change sequence. With BHO, the inertia of the bolt locking back is a subtle "Tell" that the AK is empty. (Just like you get with the AR15). The mag change sequence is exactly the same with or without BHO, you just negate the pulling of the trigger on an empty chamber, and therefore speed up the process slightly. So BHO is a visual and physical indicator that the magazine is empty. That is a positive IMO

Bought some grab bags of these back in the day. The mags were from all over and many different counties. I got a few aluminum mags, russian mags, com block mags china, iraq. But the bolt hold open were the only ones that had any real difference than the other ones.

You can get a safety that has a notch where the charging handle can be retained. So when you switch mags it won't release until you push the safety back down.

The VCI sealed ones are one of the best deals on steel AK mags on the market, yugo spec mags

Hells yeah

My croatian mags with the bolt hold open feature all work as designed. Your "example AK does not have the bolt hold open safety selector. Last shot fired, mag follower holds bolt open. Retracting the bolt carrier further reaward to the hold open notch is required...push safety selector up so the notch engages the bolt carrier charging handle; a secure hold open has been achieved.

So if they don’t say unissued they’re used?

Did you notice if it was difficult to remove the magazine with the added tension of bolt against the follower? Or does it feel about the same?