[Jac Mac]

Why blame the link bar, provided the valve train has correct geometry & setup something usually has to go amiss in the valve train for it to fail, broken springs, bent pushrods, stuck/bent valve, over rev etc can all allow enough play to allow the lifter to be pushed out of the lifter bore far enough to turn slightly, its all down hill from there..
The production 'H-bar' is lift limited and in that original low lift form probably has a much easier life than its performance counterparts.