No one has suggested the Microchip products.  If the vulnerability is
particular the the CCS units, then "something else" would seem to be the
answer. I have abused my ICD2's in most of the ways you described (miswired
cables, power applied at inappropriate times, etc., though no high voltage
arcs), and I've never had one go bad.  I've had more trouble with the PM-3
(which is not under my care).   But the fact that Microchip will repair or
replace these devices (no time limit that I know of) suggests that they put
some thought about these problems into their design.
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