I am doing a lot of international trKeeps my passport clean and flat.  I have only had to take the cover off once, and that was in the US (and only once -- that guy was having a bad day I guess).  It has flaps so I can have it open to the picture page on one side and to where the immigration stamps need to go on the other side.  Nice!  So far, it is holding up quite well, and will last for at least a few years.