have the life span of a 50-yo man with an inoperable abdominal tumor. If Apple can't get their strain relief design right after 6 years, then at least make the portion that connects to the computer detachable, and sell the thing for $20 or so, rather than charging $80+tax for the whole 9 yards.

Interestingly, when I cut the cord apart, it looked like part of the inner wiring had melted. Plus it looked like the sheath wire (negative return, probably) had oxidized -- it was blackish rather than silver in color. This is still a better mode of failure than my last deadski adapter, which failed by melting the end off and actually smoldering.