Mudguards

I don’t think mine had any alu washers.

Not the leathers washers, I think he's speaking of the big alu one. Maybe are they included in more recent packages. I had them when I bought mine six months ago.

Yeah thats the ones. They include them now and they have a sticky side and a hole. When you've drilled the hole for the bridge mount, you pop them on the inside and they 'reinforce' around the hole so they don't split.

When they sent my replacement, it had one, and so far (touch wood) now issues at all.

Because you don’t get anything more for your money (unlike good saddles, or good tyres)?

You do, you get dry feet and a worry free ride. I know I'm probably in the minority, but to me a decent set of mudguards is well worth the money. Not just for rain where they make you more comfortable, but in summer keeps a lot of dust and dirt out of the drivetrain etc. They also look a lot better than plastic one.

And lastly, if you still need convincing, you're not buying plastic (save the planet etc).

If you don't want to get VO, treat yourself to a set of Honjo's from SimWorks (or UK if anywhere sells them) and you're getting a product for life.