Perhaps worth mentioning again -- read the excellent book by Brion Toss. The Riggers Apprentice. It really is excellent!
He discusses the full 'circle' of the rigging stress, from the masthead to spreaders, down to the chainplate, thru the deck/hull, and to the base of the spar, and thus completing the loop to the top again. Every part is equally important. I gained a much better understanding of pieces not normally considered when I was a new owner. One way to view it is to remember that the XXX pound stress you measure on a shroud, will be the same on all of the other parts of the 'loop'.
While it's a grim fact that many owners ignore even obvious stuff like
age or
visible deterioration of the shrouds, a lot higher % ignore the less visible parts like the chainplates or other mechanical passage thru the deck, the inside structure (load carrying bulkhead) and the base of the spar or other structure that supports the cabin top for a deck-stepped spar.
The 'main engine' of our sailboats likely has fewer and more visible pieces than the totality of little parts inside our inboard diesel engines, but they are equally important. In my humble opinion, of course .
I hope to see Mike's classic Ericson when it's done, too!