pay'em no mind. my last chain had 4 powerlocks on them & i got about 3100 miles out of it

Really? Get a chain measurement tool and get back to me. I originally thought I was going nuts after the chain would show wear prematurely on about 5-6 chains. I noticed that it was always in the area of the link. I'm not telling you not to use the master links, just saying that for me, it's much easier to press a pin in and forget it. As for cleaning, get the Parkl Tool cyclone and you can set and forget the chain until you are ready to replace it. The chains wear in the master link area. No doubt about it. Also, the KMC chains wear quicker than the Shimano. My LBS thought I was nuts when I first told them, but they have found my findings to be correct.

I use SRAM powerlink. So in your poll is that powerlock or superlink or other?

Powerlink. When I created the poll, I wasn't thinking about the < 10 speed users.

I still use powerlink on my bents.

I've got a Park chain measurement tool. I currently use KMC chains. I've also used Shimano chains. No problems with breaking a chain in 37 years. But on a ten-speed chain, I don't want to fool around with pins. The KMC link makes cleaning so much easier. I have a friend who is a Shimano rep. He tells me Shimano will soon have a "quick-connect" link. They know they're losing chain sales...so they gotta get with the program.

Very carefully.