Ok after some thorough testing..
The Blendtec is absolutely Epic Fail..
There is too much "exposed" rubber..
Which means.. if you blend anything that may be hard, like ice..
The ice will act like grinding chips against the rubber encased central post..
So.. if at any point you run this machine a bit too dry, or with enough sturdy hard stuff, the rubber post will disintegrate INTO the blend..
So..... sigh.........................
![](http://emoticoner.com/files/emoticons/onion-head/bad-atmosphere-onion-head-emoticon.gif?1292862489)