: Good points. Kayakers have the potential to get into trouble if they can't
: control their boat (Put it where they want it, how they want it, when they
: want to) under any conditions they may encounter on a trip without the aid
: of rudders and/or skegs. Mechanical assistance can break or fail. Paddle
: skills and boat control are the bottom line of safety.

Personally, I cant see any reason why a well maintained and engineered rudder/skeg setup should be any more likely to fail than any other item on a kayak that is suject to repetitive stress-like your paddle or indeed yourself !
Both of these item can and do break at inconvenient moments.
If you tip out and your boat blows away you rely on your PFD/flares/radio/buddies. If you fall out in cold water you rely on your drysuit. If your boat wont go straight you rely on your skeg. Big deal-dont feel guilty about it. Just make sure that if you do RELY on it, its built right.
And on the topic of skill level, remember that lots of little unrelated shortcomings can add up to one big disaster when the s..t hits the fan.
Let the flames of anti skegdom begin-but hey, it winter Down Under and it might save on the heating bill !!

Pete