Woody's Wear Pad History - Traction Industry History

A simple lesson Woody's has yet to fully apply:
Blunt end carbide builds up resistance that your track has to overcome, generating a need for studs.
Carbide with a blunt front end catches on edges.

Flat Wear Pad Blunt End 1 1/2" 1992-1994
Flat Wear Pad Blunt End 1 1/4" 1995-1996
Rounded Wear Pad Blunt End 1 1/4" 1997
Wear Pads Rounded On The Sides Blunt End 1 1/2" 1998-Present

Woody's 1997 literature

NEW WEAR PAD DESIGN

All Woody's carbide runners feature carbide wear pads with a new rounded surface. We found that a rounded surface is less likely to catch an edge on the trail or on your trailer. Most manufacturers are using the old flat style with sharp square edges (if they even have wear pads).

They must load their sleds sideways onto the trailer.

It's obvious rounded sides are of no use when the sled is going straight.

Woody's is the last manufacturer to use blunt ended carbides.

Since the carbide wear rod patent had tapered ends on the carbide,
is it possible these blunt ends WERE used to generate stud sales?