Originally Posted by
Fogre
One thing I am wondering, though: since I'm mostly certain the wheel was properly built and this issue only came along this summer, what could have caused it? Some dynamics between the lighter and heavier gauge spokes, coupled with my 210 pounds on top of it? I've hit some good bumps and holes with it, but none were enough to significantly untrue the wheel. Over 3,000 miles it only developed a very slight wobble (I think this was a result of a couple miles of rough gravel), which the LBS fixed (same err, employee) when I brought it in that first time.
Two possibilities: it was built that way from the beginning and you only noticed it recently, or it was put that way after being "fixed." Wheels don't go out-of-dish on their own, someone put it like that. Either on purpose or by accident.
I should point out that there's nothing wrong with a wheel like this, it's not "broken" and you don't need a stronger wheel. If your frame/tire clearances were different you may never have noticed it. Technically a wheel should be centered but functionally a millimeter or two in either direction isn't going to affect anything.