I have this terrible habit of scraping my heels when I walk and thus the reason I don't buy expensive cycling shoes. Normally, the heel of the shoes wear out before the Velcro does. On average, a cycling shoe lasts me a little over a year and a half.

Good Heavens! That is quite a rate of attrition. My last shoes (Shimano - Iace up but I'm not sure of the model no) lasted somewhere in the region of 12-15 years. In fact they're still usable so I've hung on to them for emergency use - such as when I've ridden through an unexpected cloudburst with my regular shoes and they haven't yet dried out. Mind you, I don't do a lot of walking in them.

Lake shoes, within a year one BOA adjuster broke - BOA sent the replacement, easy fix.

Within months of that, the other shoe's BOA broke - but this time it was the base that is sewn into the shoe. BOA says we don't warranty that part, Lake said out of warranty.

Was going to go back to ratchet or velcro (I just can't go back to laces, I'm too sloppy and invariably forget to do the right foot differently from the left foot) but Sidi shoes with their version of the BOA style closure plus velcro straps was on sale and I went for those. The way they work seems like they would be more failure-prone than BOA, but so far they are problem free.

I have no need or desire to own over-engineered shoe laces. Just one more thing to break. Besides, shoe laces can be customized and Boa's cant'. I'm no prude when it comes to technology but the technology has to work every time.

Being transparent, yes I do have a pair of Salomon trail shoes with Boa laces. I liked them in the store! Got on the trail and they were a hassle. I don't like the loop doo-dad. Those nice shoes are relegated to weekend chores. So now I have over-engineered weekend chore shoes! ROFL!