Found that annoying little creak today

[Woz]

I run the modern RS7 available now on BETD, on my Surly, and they're bombproof. Wouldn't risk it with an older RS1 or RS3 at my weight.

What sets my mind at rest is seeing some 2nd hand RS7 used and utterly utterly abused with trial and trick riding.

 

[Woz]

Wasn't there an issue with some lightweight cranks where they would fracture along similar lines and to solve it they simply rotated the square of the taper by a quarter turn or similar?

RS7 and RS8 taper position is indeed different.

 

[Rampage]

Yes, RS 7 & 8 were forged before machining.
They are had a better finish (mechanical polishing iirc) to remove machining marks, before anodising.