Internet Hype?? I have seen 3......THREE GM 400 blocks split cyinders WITHOUT any kind of hardblock just in my circle over the last 4 to five years with 3 different people! You are running on borrowed time if you have run that long. In fact one of the three ran a 434 for a number of years and he said the same as you, then it happened to him and destroyed a new engine, callies crank oliver rods and camshaft, block, oil pan, and minor heads damage! Internet hype.........what you know is very isolated to your little world.