Tangentially related to this thread, earlier this afternoon as my gf and I geared up for a ride, she found the rear tire was flat on her bike. So I dutifully pulled the tube out and found a small puncture, patched it, and put it back in the tire. Pumped it up to about 40psi (26x2" mtb tire), and about a minute after I inflated and while I was reinstalling it on the bike, it blew out in spectacular fashion. So loud it sounded like a gunshot, and just a foot away from my ear. I still have a bit of ringing several hours later.
Damn tube burst at the seam for no reason. It was on the other side of the tube from where I patched it.