Speed Bleeders: I've used both the Russel and the Earls, and while I prefer the Russel piece, I honestly have a hard time figuring out WHAT could fail in the manner described. On the Earls' design, the bottom portion of the bleeder, the conical sealing piece, is spring loaded away from the rest of the bleeder screw, and if properly tightened (not loose, that would allow the fluid to lift the plunger and exit the bleeder, but also not over-tightened, which could deform the sealing surface), there's just no way that what was described could possibly happen. With the Russel design, the exterior of the bleed screw is one-piece, and looks just like a stocker. Internally, there is a spring-loaded check ball acting as a one-way valve. Again, there is no moving part to fail, and cause the described leak.
The only things I can think of that would create the described failure would be improper torque (deformed or not tight) or debris wedged between the bleeder screw and the caliper right in the cone-seat area. If either design failed in the valving somehow, it would still seal tight, but would lose it's one-way functionality. Either way, it sounds like operator error to me.
PS: Yes, I use them, and will continue to use them, and have had NO brake issues on track. I have, however, seen lots of screwed up bleeds done in the paddock resulting in a spongy pedal out on track. Speed bleeders mean never having to say "up/open/down/closed" again...
PPS: I'm also trying to figure out exactly how nobody noticed the falling pedal with a leaking bleeder. ANY leak in a hydraulic system will let the pedal start to fall under pressure, and should be thing one that you check before pulling out after service...
