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Having used assisted opening knives, I can say with confidence that the practice is necessary to make yourself comfortable holding the knife while still being able to deliver the necessary, and not negligible, force to open the knife. They are really very little alike.

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How would it compare with the amount of practice required to smoothly open a balisong?

I have no idea, I've never used one. Those have always seemed like very silly knives to me.

To be clear, the opening force almost all comes from the wrist. The force you apply to the knife with your finger to get it going is quite negligible.

Well perhaps I open them wrong then. I flick my (not assisted) boxcutter open with my wrist but open my assisted opening folding knife exclusively with my thumb on the thumb-bar. As I see it, not having to use your wrist is basically the point of the spring assist.

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