Originally Posted by
elcruxio
But again, since elastic deformation does not work harden the spoke, why does the spring of the elbow matter? Especially if the elbow is held in position by tension?
Springing metal does not mean that 100% of the deformation is elastic. Otherwise spring set wouldn't exist.
There is a popular myth that springs don't wear out, promulgated by people that read rather than do. A sprung elbow is not a well designed spring.
Anyone who has seen a worn out steel frame (usually a failure at the right chainstay a few inches from the BB), knows that steel does fatigue from work cycles that fail to measurably bend it.