> Surface mount (SMD, SMT, other TLAs?) is a good idea for
> most parts, except those that have to take mechanical stress

I just repaired my niece's brand new mp3 player. The first time
she plugged the earphones in, the jack socket came completely
off the board

An SMT 3.5mm stereo socket with the flimsiest of soldering,
didn't even cover the pins. 2 seconds with an iron made it stronger
than the factory did. There was room to make it through-hole

But even through-hole connectors often fail. Many times the
solderable body anchors aren't used and all the strain is taken
by the pads, which are usually at the other end of the body to
the entry, meaning they have to take the added leverage of the
plug. So simple to double-side solder body lugs

Joe
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