I'm done with this game...
Don't be.
Well maybe this thread ok it's in a rut, but I for one happen to enjoy reading the "more controversiol, but pending on viewpoint and background not necessarily unfounded at all point of view".
I am not enjoying it always for the inevitably ensuing deadbeat discussion but I do enjoy to think all those view points over and see where I fall, why I think I fall there. I am not saying I share your viewpoint 1:1, but I value it as well as the reasoning as additional food for thought. And I share some of it.
Stress induced failure can be triggered by a single kerf even if as small as a single grain especially in a highly loaded and somewhat over it's life fatigued part.
But yes, stuff fails. If all were known and all was tested then such failure could maybe be eliminated. But not all is known, not all can be tested and no-one would pay for it (outside of NASA...) and the more testing and servicing is introduced into a system the more it ultimately could contribute to the failure chain root cause statistics.
So, for stuff important to sagety of one sort or another, mostly (racing and flying (heavily weight reduced...) are scratching exception status) stuff is desigened to be on what is perceived the safe side of things... As more is learned all the time that perception changes all the time. And sometimes an overzeleous cost reduction, overpromising new material not tested sufficiently long, or a great improvement with an oversight wrecks havoc...
For so many reasons (improper or lack of service being not the least, but certainly not the only one of them), stuff fails.
But just as proper servicing and monitoring can dramatically decrease (not drive to zero) such failures, it can also contribute if not that proper.
I don't jump. Money & time are reasons, but the real reason is "who packed the chute, on what day, in what mood, how fidtracted,..." just dont want to deal with that thought... I don't climb (who laid that line and why should I trust it)... Planning to do my first own reg service this winter because I just cannot see why to trust someone else more who may be doing it with a two evening class or such and has to crank them out somewhat fast for a living. It's a lesser thing because where I dive 1st stage failures certainly should be recoverable and I have redundancy, "on board" but while I think I am cool-headed, there is only one way to find out and I plan to do what I can to not have to... Just my philosophy...
I certainly value this discussion
includong your contribution
as I would DD's if he were here.
And I am just a Dude working to get a little at a time further away in my habits from the 90% vacation divers you describe. Never mind the % number, I know what you mean, I started that way... but full well knowing what to think of my training and ferling a burning need to augment... when time permits ... every once in a while ... like (are you sitting?) on vacation...