Thanks you guys, your point of view is clear. Bob, if I can improve this forum with your (or anyone's) ideas, I'd love to talk! I no longer visit other forums, primarily because of time constraints. So if there are "things that have to patched up," I can't and won't involve myself in such issues I have purposefully ignored to preserve my sanity. If I go "there" into those dark issues it's purely for reasons of legal mediation.
But you do raise a good point -- I think the hardware issue is sometimes over-emphasized. At the end of the day, it's the experience of the surgeon and the trust and respect a patient nurtures with that professional that faciliates a "comfortable" decision.
Whether it be Stenum fans, fusion patients, or disruntled postal workers, you are ALL welcome here. In the meantime, I give up on finding an answer to the original question.
Peace, really.
