From our experience with the
CUI encoders, we have had only a positive experienceso for. They seem to be more reliable becuase the actual disk is enclosed and magnetic, not optical. They and mount in a very similar way to the E4P, and could be used for a variety of similar uses.
We used E4Ps for our mechanum last year. Because they were hard to reach under the robot and thus even harder to install/replace during a breakdown, we will probably use all CUI encoders for future mechanum drives. BUT. Be warned:
"*We recommend no more than three cycles of mounting and
removal of the AMT top cover base. Multiple cycles of mounting
and removing the top cover can cause base fatigue over time
and affect encoder performance."
....Its easy to exceed this recommendation if you are careful and treat the plastic tabs and axle mount nicely, but every time you do you risk damaging the disk inside and breaking the plastic mount.
How delicate is the magnetic disk anyways?
Mind, the encoders in the FIRST Choice are a little different then the ones in our picture from the OP, they are "straight radial" pins while the FC ones are "right-angle axial" ones.