Yes! It is so annoying! I suppose we can blame shoplifters, but it still seems like overkill! Wouldn't just the outside plastic wrap be enough without those three sealing stickers reminding us that there is a magnetic strip inside the case? On my new OUT DVDs, all three of them stuck to the spine like you complained about. ESB was the only one whose sticky things like residue. I have found a somewhat useful trick for keeping the cover paper from ripping if it's too high or low. Rather than come at it from the bottom, cut a hole at the top and take it off from there. I've found that it doesn't tear up as often that way.