[Sprite_tm]

You're probably right if you do professional runs. This is the few-bucks mass-production who-cares-its-cheap-as-borscht-anyway process we're talking about; it usually comes with 50% e-testing and I actually have a panelized PCB with traces very close to the minimum come back with a few of the PCBs crossed out. The question then becomes: what about the traces that just made it? Can I run any current through it, will they deteriorate over time? Hence my choice to (advise to) beef up the traces a bit.

[fps-hero]

If your getting X’s, why bother? Every PCB place I’ve dealt with tells you test rate and success rate (nominal 95% not factoring in specifics of the PCB). For a prototype run, you are effective guaranteed 4.95x good PCB out of 5 Minimum order. 50% e testing means you still got two out of five.

[TomVDB]

Your “every place” doesn’t fall in the same bin as JLCPCB or PCBWay and similar outfits.

I’ve done tons of PCB prototypes at JLCPCB and all you’ll ever receive is blue box, a plastic bag with the PCBs and sometimes a keychain.

There’s never a test report.

That’s why it $2 for 5 PCB, shipped to you within 48 hours after placing the order.