Mica -
I've always wondered how that hum canceller was affixed to the body. This is a lot lower tech than what my wild imagination had come up with - maybe there was some sort of odd-shaped rare-earth magnet, which, when properly placed in the secret location actuated the latch that released it - you know, that kind of thing!
Even funnier image - I just can't imagine anybody taking a swing at one of my Alembics, even with a rubber mallet. If I were present, I'd imagine James would take steady aim, swing, and then manage to hit my hand which I threw in the way in the last moment to prevent impact! Again and again! It's like a reflex. Sadly, I lack the don't bump into things with your headstock response.
It's not just me. I have a friend with an expensive graphite road bike. If it were a steel frame and he was going to take a fall, he's just unhook and leap away before impact; with this bike, he'd rather scrape his leg because skin grows back and graphite doesn't.
I read that Charlie Rose, the PBS personality was seen in public with a black eye a few months ago. No, he wasn't fighting, he fell on his face on a Manhattan sidewalk rather than scratch up his new MacBook Air!
David Fung