Why? I'm reasonably certain pro riders are on chains connected with the current generation master links, and despite their routinely putting far more power into their bikes than the denizens of C&V are capable, I don't hear or read of them breaking chains left and right. I will certainly recognize that back when I started, master links were likely less reliable than closing with a chain tool, but the only chain failure I faced with a modern master link was a case where it had been opened a few too many times. There's an easy solution: replace your master links often; they're cheap. The only other chain failure was a broken Campy Perma-Link when I was on a standing climb. I do run Campy chains, but they are now closed with modern master links. The key point is that on-the-bike chain cleaning is always a compromise. I suspect that my old Sedisport chains and freewheels from my youth would have lasted a fair bit longer if I could have easily removed the chain for cleaning even without the benefit of wax.