Wheel dish and triangle checked and all good.
Sounds like a solution would be stronger skewers - only tried the stock skewers. Im surprised this wasnt a LBS suggestion.
I understand the problem itself is baffling.... and im getting a replacement frame so im over finding a solution... but as stated in my first post im unsure if i should risk using my current wheel set given that the LBS thinks the design of the hub end caps (being too short) was the cause of the dropout damage. Im questioning that thinking and would prefer to not have to write off my reasonably expensive boutique wheel set.
Thus the question.... are short hub end caps likely to cause damage to carbon dropouts?