I think it bears mentioning that frame of reference is important here. I’m coming at this from a performance perspective; others longevity, extreme conditions or just basic service. When it comes to marginal issues like this I think performance is the primary issue. If you just care that your cranks turn you could probably put pebbles in your bb.
Some folks here like to wax poetic about buttery smooth bearings. Some manufacturers tout their expensive bearing applications for when seconds count. Fact or fiction? We may never know. But my hands generally tell me that less metal / uncaged bearings feel smoother.
And hey, what would we do with ourselves without ridiculous, speculative discussions of minutiae like this?
Last edited by jethin; 06-14-19 at 10:32 AM.