flaky? I usually have to tinker with them and clean
and reseat the boards
before I can get them to work if I've left them sitting more than a day or
two.
Not especially. And I can't see any obvious reason why this should be the
case -- they're the same edge connectors used on other HP products, the
boards fit in proper guides and are clamped down, etc.
Maybe your machine(s) have been used is a slightly corrosive atmosphere
or something.
-tony