*Now if your friend in careening into deep potholes at 20+ mph, well, I'd like to hear of any rim that can really stand up to that abuse.*

i've got a pair of wheels built up with DTswiss R1.1 rims, granted they're 38 (DTswiss double butted) spokes, & were built by a crazy good wheelbuilder but yes, i've carreened into a DEEP pothole while going 35+ on a downhill curve & they came out unscathed.