Plastic deterioration like this has ruined so many things I liked that are otherwise well designed. I've had it happen with computer mice, umbrellas, knives, ca

Plastic deterioration like this has ruined so many things I liked that are otherwise well designed. I've had it happen with computer mice, umbrellas, knives, camera tripods, shoes, flashlights. I don't know the chemistry behind why, but it's a terrible feeling to have something either disintegrate, or become terribly sticky, or turn into putty.