This sounds so much like the kind of baseless whining I hear whenever Leica announces a new camera.
Digilloyd has never said one thing about any camera I owned that he 'reviewed' that turned out to be true in my personal experience. Similarly, I've had and been using late '70s Hasselblad gear for thirty years and have never once had a camera or back lock up, never had a shred of evidence of "fragility".
Not to say that it's the world's first "perfect" gear: I've reported my experiences with the 907x which include a couple of minor glitches I ran into in the first month or so of ownership. Nothing terrible, or that couldn't be worked around easily, and no longer in evidence. I've had my share of Hasselblad V system lenses and bodies that needed a service, like with
all mechanical camera equipment.
I've had just as many issues with the gear from
"...the Japanese manufacturers had long surpassed them in features, price and reliability", if not more, to indicate to me that this is just a baseless slam.
My two 1978 500CMs keep on making great photos with my V system lenses from 1967 to 1992, the 907x/CFVII 50c and its modern XCD lenses make excellent photos, and the CFVII 50c back works flawlessly with the 500CM bodies and lenses. Their features suit me perfectly, the reliability so far seem to be right on target, and the price ... is the price.
I'd suggest we move on and not rathole into this kind of negativity. If you don't like, don't want, or consider the equipment too expensive, well, fine. Say so and be done with it, let others who are using and enjoying it share their experiences and practices to solve some picture making situations. Okay? We don't have to all like or want or be able to afford the same equipment...
G