[Andy A.]

I suspect that they've run some numbers and are sure that the gears will be up to the loads they are expecting. What concerns me is that as the gears wear, their strength will go down. Depending on what type of plastic it is, even exposure to sunlight could weaken it. What works now may not work a few weeks from now after some hard driving. I guess it hinges on the material. If they manage to get away with it, they'll have a nice little advantage in not having heavy steel gears.

As an aside, I noticed the other day that aluminum gears were available, and cheap! Is there any marked difference between an aluminum gear and say a nylon equivalent? Any practical experience with them?

-Andy A.