Having been hit in the face with a stripped bolt while riding the Zipper  as a teen, (no proof it even came off the ride and not out of someone's pocket, but still) I am right there with your friend. I'm not sure it's all the carnies doing bad work, I think a lot of it is just the repeated tear down/put up every 4 days wearing it down, but still... Couple that with heifers wanting to go on ride that can't support them, and I'm out. Now that I think about it, I actually haven't seen any of the older rides that were really popular when I was a kid near me in years. I guess it got too risky.