Quoted from Ericpinballfan:... Socketing the chip makes complete sense. However, wonder what the fail point will be per chip, weeks, months, years? ...
No "however", is just makes sense to install sockets.
Board makers don't install socket to save pennies. The chips are put on a board and a wave solder machine solders everything quick and easy. This saves them the cost of the socket and the extra step if inserting the chip in the socket.
You are going to be taking a soldering iron to each leg of that chip. While it may be quick (unless you are not very good) you are not going to be as fast as a wave solder machine. You are exposing the chip to heat. Would you rather heat a chip or a socket?
What happens when if the chip blows or the inevitable "CRAP, I installed it backwards!" happens? Now you are exposing your board to heat twice more, once to remove the old chip and once to insert the new. Now you are risking lifting the traces.
As for the larger question I have not looked at the overall issue or solution on the stepper board.