I don't feel they are any more susceptible to breaking than any other lever or shifter. My point is just when and if they do break then......

Personally I have never used them other than a quick test ride. This is the reason you will not see me giving an opinion on them based on comfort or ease of use. Personally I prefer SRAM so it makes no difference to me how easy to use the dual controls are. This is a personal preference as well.

I have seen people have to miss races and rides because of them though when if they had conventional levers / shifters they would have been able to quickly replace a brake lever and been able to do the ride / race.

Only reason I mentioned the cutting off my sentence is because to prove your point you pretty much eliminated my point. The end of my sentence clarified why I made the statement.