Golly, Radom, I didn't know I was disagreeing with the famous and always right (in any meaning of the term) Jeff Cooper. I would say that the C96 Mauser was not a very good gun in 1896 (the Borchardt was better, though its cartridge was not as powerful) and is worthless today as a practical gun. You are correct that firepower can be put out with stripper clips, but loading without them is difficult as there is no bolt latch and you have to hold the bolt open by hand while loading. Not impossible, but tricky. As to being hard on the hand, I guess that is a matter of the hand. My grip is not that strong and it bothers me, but as in other cases, some people may have no problem with it.
I don't think there is a valid comparison with the the Mauser 1898. The rifle was a developed design, building on previous successes. The C96 pistol was a one shot, not a developed design, and little effort was ever made to improve it. It was a design dead end.
As for metal quality, I mention only that a friend carries a scar on his forehead where the back part of a C96 bolt hit him after glancing off the frame of his shooting glasses.
But then, who am I to argue with JC? (Not the original "JC", just the guy who seems to sometimes get himself confused with the original.)
Understand, I am NOT discussing collectibility. As with Lugers, I would love to have a bushel basket full of the old Mausers. But I think I would choose something a little more modern if I were in harm's way.
Jim