labratmatt,

Your idea makes sense and I've always wondered why rear wheels are made weaker/less laterally stiff than fronts? (although when I stand out of the saddle I stress the front wheel more than normal conditions)

The only problem I see....LOL.....Is that Roadies are a obssessive compulsive group of people that always have to "match". You are talking about a group of people that typically get their panties in a bunch when their socks don't match their watch for example.

P.S. Bontrager uses a heavier rim on the rear of their wheelsets and the Rold Vigor RS has a rear rim that is 50 grams heavier than the front. So some companies are trying to address this issue.

I said this before, I ride wheelsets with equal number of spokes front and rear (same rim) and all my problems involve the rear wheel only. On the other hand, Front wheel is indestructible in my experience.