Although weaker, I also think you should:

> a.) stop being paranoid and not worry about it

As an adjunct to this I also just noticed (too late!) a potential problem with 'artistic' strips. My surfyak has such tight and compound curves that I have been using 1/8 wide strips in some areas. An unexpected result of this is that it lays over somewhat in some curvatures. I missed this as I was laying it up and now have got a succession of shingles or shiplapping strips. Its still early and no big problem but what the implication is is that on sanding down the about 3/16" thick strips, I'll be lucky to end up with 1/16" of thickness in these areas. And that's bound to be weak.

Oh well just glue in some stainless steel strips!

Mick