Quoted from Wakky:
The only way it would split is if you nudge or push the thing around . Or you slide the whole machine around on the floor. The thing wont split by itself just sitting there!
Well considering it will be on location I am sure it will be nudged, and possibly moved a few times. I had it in my game room, got played but with 28 pins in here, none of which have that style joint or have the split issue, got played very mildly and not all that often. I will say I am not sure when it happened, just that I noticed when I went to start tear down to move it.