If you remove the chain to clean/lube it and reinstall the connecting link has seen 2 more "uses" One when taken apart and the next on reassembly. Simple math with no assumptions of what's "use".

Now having said that, many people reuse their connecting links a few times over the chain's life with zero issues. Some will have problems (generally the link will self break apart during riding {coasting over bumps as example) but there seems to be few of these incidents compared to the times the reused link holds together just fine. Thankfully loosing a chain when riding usually is not a safety issue (unless you're doing something when a loss of power will be dangerous, like trying to beat out a stop light).

I've "lost" 2 chains on my bikes due to connecting links coming apart. Both times were when coasting and riding over rough road patches. That bike has a fairly high effort freehub, meaning the freehub body won't freewheel as easily as most other brands do (when working well) This slight extra "push" on the chain, from the freehub wanting to continue to rotate when coasting, can push the two halves of the connecting link together enough that with other inputs (rough road) and the pins cab disengage from their slots. Both times I frustratingly just stopped and collected the bits, reinstalled them and road on. Thankfully I was able to find both link halves both times. But for an offroader where the dropped link halves might be lost forever just carry a spare link. Andy