All of my handles open and close smoothly but that's because after fixing three of them with epoxy resin (one had cracked and the other two mechanisms just popped out of the plastic hole) I lubed them up real good so it wouldn't happen again.
I was under the impression, rightly or wrongly, that you could tighten the bolt that holds the two pieces of the hinge together, the bolt or pin in the middle where the hinge actually rotates. That's how someone explained it to me a while ago anyway.
Assuming you're right though I think I might just switch it with the one from the rear door like you suggested. Is it necessary to remove the front fender to remove and replace that hinge though?(I hope not)
Thanks for the input.