I'm concerned like the OP as well, probably never why I'll buy a carbon frame/bike. On freshly paved asphalt, I'm certain it'll last virtually forever. An imperfect world and road surface and it's why I buy steel bikes. I don't ever intend to replace frames/forks, and carbon makes me feel uneasy for that reason. I can wait for steel to rust, but carbon, I still perceive that as a plastic bike ?