Thanks to all for your comments. This is nothing like an oil thread, and need not go that route as long as we stick to facts and theories, keep opinion in check, and respect each other's right to be heard. So far so good. I've learned a lot already!

I'd like to throw a spanner in the works. If we accept that plugs and sticky ropes are risky for repairing tubeless tires because the "wound" on the tire might allow water, oil, sand and other grit to penetrate, allowing gradual weakening of the steel and composite ply structure and raising risk of catastrophic failure, then why would the same concerns NOT be present for tubed tires? When you pull a nail or screw from your tubed tire and just repair the tube, are you not now riding on a compromised tire that is also susceptible to weakening due to intrusion by water, oil, sand, grit, etc?

If this is true, then we should also be considering replacing our tubed tires after a flat, no? Needless to say, that ain't going to happen.

Perhaps a more important consideration is how much damage has been caused to the tire -- whether tubeless or tubed -- by whatever caused the puncture.

thanks,
euphonius