I worked in a Specialized shop for a very long time and have seen the fads come and go. The Zertz fittings are a gimmick. If you remove the fittings from the frame you will be unable to percieve any difference in the ride quality. We did this at our shop at the suggestion of the sales rep. Notice that over time the Zertz fittings became smaller and fewer and eventually not used at all. No need to worry about the condition of them as they serve no real purpose.