[eesmith]

I think my earlier rhetorical question came across as one of inquiry.

Most place have a bug log. Some of the OSS projects I'm involved with have bugs I've submitted over a decade old.

My comment was meant to lead in to how a centralized bug system is not the issue - it's one of process. If a bug comes in, and either people accept a bug or close it right away, then it's the same as having a personal work list.

Except that the failure modes, like when people suddenly must be on leave for a month, are less severe.

(With the proviso that some people use personal work lists with a different interface than the centralized system might offer.)