Retracting my concerns
After a 3rd opinion from one of the highest regarded spine specialists in my area and then reading the wear rate tests on the Mobi-C I think I've answered my own questions. It sounds like removing the disc really wouldn't be that big of a deal since they often shave bone etc. when doing fusions and installing discs. This Dr. felt that removing the end-plates wouldn't be all that complicated anyway but that he's never had to do it with any long-term patients of over 10 years because they're not having any problems. The wear-rate tests posted on the FDA website are a lot more thorough than I had initially imagined and I can't see one of these discs wearing out in just 20 years, if ever, considering the beating they put these things through just to get an almost insignificant weight reduction to the core. I think the neurosurgeon who I had seen that suggested only 15-20 years of lifespan had simply not done much research or thought into it and threw out the hip/knee implant response because he simply didn't know. I feel pretty comfortable now going with ADR should the stronger symptoms of my disc-herniation return yet again.
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