Interesting points Woz. I absolutely agree with your points about having hubs you can dismantle and repair simply.
On the spokes I'm not sure I agree. What breaks spokes (and so wheels) is fatigue cracking of spokes - typically at the bend, also occasionally at the thread. Tensile stress alone is usually not the problem - and a steel spoke has huge strength anyway.
What would concern me is the fatigue life of the alloy spokes compared to steel. Aluminium is a poorer material for fatigue cracking, so would not be my first choice - however this might be solved by direct pull spokes.
Spokes that can be changed and tensioned simply are the best solution - and of course to take a couple spare with you!
On the spokes I'm not sure I agree. What breaks spokes (and so wheels) is fatigue cracking of spokes - typically at the bend, also occasionally at the thread. Tensile stress alone is usually not the problem - and a steel spoke has huge strength anyway.
What would concern me is the fatigue life of the alloy spokes compared to steel. Aluminium is a poorer material for fatigue cracking, so would not be my first choice - however this might be solved by direct pull spokes.
Spokes that can be changed and tensioned simply are the best solution - and of course to take a couple spare with you!