Maybe I am paranoid... but back in the day... long ago, when I began to cycle in earnest to work and back, I was not very good at looking after my bike... and my BB ended up being totally shot at.

Maybe it was my fault for sure for not maintaining it... but the cage broke and the shards of it made a total mess of the cup and cones. Even now, I have stripped a BB to find one of the bearing has slipped from the cage... and THAT was the cause of the click! So I prefer loose bearings, simply because of that.. I do not want broken cages shredding up my hubs or BB cups and cones.

I have no idea about n1, or n2. But if 12 ball bearing will fit, I will use 11... and I have never had any issues or problems doing this. It works for me.

Does not 'n' mean negative... or 'negate'? Thus if 12 ball bearings will fit in a race... 'negate 1'... take one out! Must be summat Italian... and Italians are not only known for making fast cars.. but rather excellent bikes?