In reply to Flatlander:
> I have a pair of hookers that have lasted a year of climbing both inside and out.
Yep - I've got mates who really like their Mad Rocks as well, but unfortunately my experience was different - they literally began to start coming apart on the first day of use. The shop has exchanged them now so I've got a new pair, but I've only done one route in them so I'll need a few more climbs to be able to say if we should give Mad Rock the benefit of the doubt, and that I was just really unlucky. Nevertheless consistency is obviously an important part of being a quality manufacturer.
I've worked in gear shops so I know that no company is perfect all the time, but some are pretty near to it. Shoes aren't safety-vital so perhaps companies can get away with some bad batches (it definitely seems to happen from time to time), but imagine BD or DMM turning out a "bad batch" of krabs!? No one in that case is going to moan and grumble "bugger... I'm going to have to take this back to the shop now and get it exchanged - once my two broken legs have healed..."