[BHSPitMonkey]

That satellite's orbit very clearly did decay, though. The problem in that instance is the descent wasn't controlled, but that's a different kind of failure than the one this thread is worried about (i.e. satellites lingering for many years without active collision avoidance).

[shakna]

Decayed without breaking down, is my point. There was a failure. Which means failure is a possibility and not something to just dismiss.