Perhaps -- more of a "me too!" effort if you ask me. Which product would you choose? That from the tried and true S&S who, over many years, have made thousands of units in numerous sizes and materials (and have their manufacturing processes nailed down accordingly). Or, the one that will only be made in a few hundred units, at most, for only one frame builder. I can't imagine the cost is that much cheaper for the new z-couplers, when the S&S are a commodity by comparison.

I had a brand new coupled Santana aluminium bike last year and the frame was, for lack of a better word, an abortion. The S&S joints began to crumble to powder at the retaining ring grooves. As the frame saw more use, the friability of the metal extended under the paint finish until it ruptured, spilling aluminium powder everywhere. The boom tube z-joints seemed to hold up fine. But I was determined not to keep the frame long enough to find out.

Mind you, according to S&S, Santana contracts them only to machine the coupler joints from provided billet and supply the steel nuts -- so, I am not contradicting myself by the first paragraph. It would seem Santana might want to get control over their manufacturing quality systems if they wish to make any of the benefits of materials/sourcing control worthwhile.