Yan, you can't argue against logic.
This is what competent and ethical mechanics know and correct,
"
If the cones are screwed on too far, they exert pressure on the bearing balls. This causes excessive friction; the wheel will not turn as freely as it should, and the parts will wear out prematurely...
Poor cone adjustment is not usually obvious to a customer, but it is really quite important. If a hub is too tight, the bearing surfaces will self destruct prematurely, and the bike will not roll as freely as it should."
Originally Posted by downtube
Now question for you Mr. Bass.... Do you check hub adjustment on all new builds? What is that policy at your shop? How many co-workers have done that at their previous places of employment.
If the bike had hubs with cup and cone bearings then the bearing was adjusted... that was common practice for every decent mechanic I ever knew and/or worked with for more than 30 years and it's what we taught new mechanics in training. We adjusted bearings on all new bikes and every bike that came in for a full tune up. In the days before cartridge bearings every good mechanic, DIY cyclist and racer knew that hub adjustments were critical and that over tightening them certainly was something to be avoided.