Originally Posted by MooneyBloke

Why? I'm reasonably certain pro riders are on chains connected 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.