I've never had a dud, either. My only exploding stove was an MSR Whisperlite gasoline stove. But the Portland area REI stores don't carry the 16 oz canisters, or at least not any time i've been there (admittedly, I don't go very often). Bummer! Next time I go to Wyoming (probably the only place I'll do a ten-dayer) I'll check the Great Outdoors Shop in Pinedale. Or get a recommendation from you for Lander if I go to the east side.

Those containers do weigh something, and, as I mentioned, the larger the container, the less the weight of the container compared to the weight of the fuel it contains. Plus the valves are the same size for each.