cylinder scuffing occurs in all long stroke engines, side loading is a fact of life. I would assume that more damage is caused to these engines by their owners running high rpm than has ever been caused by timing, rod weight, or fuel quality. No manufactures put out engines that are so delicate that within tolerances they bend rods (atleast not the germans, i would suspect low quality work like that from the japanese). I would suspect it has something to do with our speed limits and commute-fueled society. just my .02

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1996 s10 zr2 with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1996 c2500 suburban with a 6.5 turbo diesel
1981 300sd with a turbo 617
Monte carlo figure 8 car