Swageless Backstay Insulators , replacements

[Cayo Quemado]

I regularly run across different SSB antenna configurations, plastic holders that clip over the wires, (not my favorite since they always stay wet), stand-offs on the backstay all the way to the mast-head, and my favorite, for occasional use, the retractable wire raised on a spare halyard.

Then last week a client came by for a rigging inspection whose backstay insulators had pulled apart due to a lightning strike. The threads in the plastic part had melted, then re-congealed around the stainless piece. (I've never cut these open and am not sure of their interior configuration) Dumb luck prevented the mast from going overboard as the failure was not initially apparent.

Is this a common, or common enough occurrence to steer clear of Backstay insulators altogether? If the fairly expensive mechanical insulators aren't even able to be re-used does it make more sense to recommend swage insulators, especially if all upper terminations are swaged?

I have faith in a well installed mechanical terminal but does the possibility of UV degradation or lighting strike resulting in a rig failure mean we should consider an SSB antenna to be an inappropriate addition to the standing rigging?

I haven't read anything like all of the threads here and I hope this isn't something that everyone is sick of talking about.

Tom Gensemer
Izabal, Guatemala