Yes, I agree that the failure process occurs overtime, exempting a hard crash, be it corrosion, fatigue, notch sensitivity, etc and/or some combination.
What catches my attention, is the final chapter of that failure process according to years of reports here, often occurs suddenly, and at rest, which I find hard to explain.
The cool down heat gradient idea is interesting.

Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.