Based on my experience... 95% true, but using RLL on stepper is fine but the main problem was when the maker produced drives to work with RLL used faster stepper design (makers tends to pack with lastest on next generation and leave the older alone instead of improving it more to pack more info instead of increassing performance which is perferable.) and that also include fast stepper type seeking on MFM drives as well. That's where you see the trouble. Noisy stepper ones tends to wear out than those ones that does quietly and slowly. That is why the slow quiet stepping drives like ST225's lasted so long that platter wore more smoother and got stuck or lasted longer anyway! :) Voice coil is best way to up the performance and pack more info. I can't attach "reliablity" to anything, only maker can do to assure this requires careful design and choosing right ideas and applications, making sure it's not cut on the corners and careful QC in production yields reliablity. Does not need cost like that just careful job and do the job right once. Jason D.