Normal folder can and should have more surface contact, so washer. For balisong, it's not important, so washer or bearing doesn't make a difference.
Compression lock is definitely better than RIL or Walker liner lock. Backlock and Triad are more enjoyable to open/close exactly because of the resistance.
All these are IMHO.
To stay on topic, a Stretch with compression lock build like these mantras is perhaps my wish ... No flipper, no bearing.