On the subject of failures in general, am I the only one who thinks there have just been way too many of these in the last couple years? 

Of course you are not the only one.  High on my priorities for selecting an engine was RELIABILITY.  It seemed to me a rotary installation could be made more reliable than a Lycoming.  I would hate to be proven wrong.  We had a lengthy discussion some months ago about peer review, inspections, etc.; but nothing came of it.  Apparently the majority feels the record is OK.

Al G