Hi Henry --that looks interesting ..just had a fast glance through it and bookmarked it ...I think as long as younggun is sensible and allows for the fact that a lot of exposure to salt water / sun will have an impact, I reckon with a good care- routine there is no reason why a reasonable `lifespan` for a system cannot be achieved.....I guess the only real way to find out is to wear and see how it goes.... we can speculate all day as to what might/mighn`t happen but the only way for an individual to really find out is wear and see.... other guys have said they had no major problems from swimming etc... obviously `harsher`treatment of a system will shorten it`s life- span, but it`s not going to be a disaster within a week of first putting it on.....just depends on a few `local`factors.Paul.