[fox46]

Well I know none of my teams can afford to go out and buy a brand new fleet of speed controllers, let alone in the last week of build.

Everyone has different definitions of good engineering practice. I detest the "replace and toss it" mentality. I would argue that "Test and replace if necessary" is an excellent engineering practice and is that which is respected far more often in the real world. In today's society, everyone is too ready to throw out an otherwise perfectly good component in favor of something that is *new*. I personally have a big problem with this kind of "disposable" thinking.

Should they replace them? Sure- if they are worried, have the money and time- might as well.

Is replacement definitively the *one and only right* thing to do? No.