I can confirm that the Vortex XP bits are absolutely awesome!
I run a 3/8 mortise compression bit to cut all the materials for our casework: 18mm MDF with double sided HPL, 16mm Birch with 1 side HPL, or 17mm Birch with 2 sides HPL, and 5mm ply with HPL. Plus some unlaminated MDF.
Here is my tip: By running the same bit for all these materials, including dados and grooves, you take advantage of the variation in material thickness to lengthen tool life, as follows:
We know that the HPL is what causes the most wear on the bit.
When cutting material with one side HPL, always have it facing up. This way, the tool suffers wear at different points depending on the exact thickness of the material, instead of getting disqualified prematurely due to overuse in a single spot on one type of material.
When the tool is no longer perfectly sharp, use it for backing material only (in my case 5mm ply with white laminate) because the perimeter gets hidden by the rear frame of the carcase. Raw MDF is also fine to cut with a semi dull bit.
I am still happily cutting sheets with my first Vortex bit, it has done over 120 sheets of perfect parts, and counting!
I also note that most of you say you are running the tools at 18000 RPM. I have found in the past using other bits that this speed makes a shreeking noise and wears down the bit after 10-20 sheets. I asked Vortex about this and they said that a lower RPM would lengthen tool life. So I have reduced to 16000 RPM (Feed rate=12 meters per minute) and the results speak for themselves!