Wrong assumption to make! Many of those people have stated they were careful with them and they STILL started cracking. Unless they're all lying or exaggerating (we would have different standards for "careful") I imagine that either some head shapes/sizes are more stressful on those headphones, or that it is very VERY pick about how you grab them and take them off, I think a recommendation was to handle it by the circular parts above the ear pieces where the top of the crack would usually start.i'm maybe tempting fate but ive had mine over a year and no cracks. but then again i don't fling them around by the ear piece either , i'm always careful with me tech.
i have a wee tear on the padding though, i blame that on hair product use :/ ... wish the pads where replaceable
At any rate I sort of consider the design of these partially an admission that the Pulse Elite design was fundamentally flawed.