I'm curious about elastic deformation and compression of the spring pin. Are the potential values under normal use so little as to be non factors?
Is plastic deformation basically required for the pin to work loose because the roll pin is exerting an outward force along its axis and would expand to match any potential elastic deformation? There is a lot of friction bearing material for the roll pin to act against if tolerances are good.
Or, is it possible that downforce on the standoff could compress the pin as (if possible to achieve) the holes expand elastically from that same downwards force?
Either way, fortunately the wrap around design means the pin has to travel a ways to free itself.
Even if the stick is in fact superior in durability to the field, it would be better for overall peace of mind if the stick was designed to specifically bear weight the way it seems it's often enough going to. Since that isn't the case, I'm with Kyler in that I'd want to know more about the trials the sticks underwent with just the roll pin.
Also, if any of the pros who hunted on them all last season had glue breakages, and if so, did they continue to use the sticks, and if so, what was observed.
Not saying the sticks are unsafe, but that it's hard to affirm they are safe if we don't know that they were really put to the test in the lab and in the field under a glueless condition. Only Tethrd can answer that, and surely they'll have some demonstration to address the situation I would think. Or not.