1. I have a 163 H-cup. And she’s been with me for just 6 months.
I stand and pose her all the time. Her wrists are completely gone at this point. And one of her legs is on its way as well. I doubt she’ll be able to stand on her own after a year. I don’t know If I’ll ever be able to cut into her as so many suggest. I’m afraid that home repair will ruin her. But I guess nothing lasts forever.
2. There is no precise half-life (in the sense of t1⁄2) when joints will become loose; it depends on usage intensity and even more on factory precision. And in this area – factory work – real differences show up. The cheap skeleton types, mostly but not exclusively used in TPE dolls, are typically not adjusted with high precision because they are designed to be used in a mold with ~374-392°F temperature; this results in limitations for temperature resistant grease and the use of precision tools like torque wrenches. One shipped ‘TPE type’ skeleton is good, the next is so-la-la, and the third wobbles after a few weeks – what you really get is a little bit like playing lottery. These types of skeletons can – under certain unfavorable circumstances – become partially loose within months or even weeks. You need a lot of luck if a doll with ‘TPE style skeleton’ remains fully posable after more than 1-1.5 years. Typically not all joints become equally loose, usually, it’s one or two. Though, if it’s the knee joint, such a doll can quickly lose her ability to stand. To make it even worse, ‘TPE skeletons’ often can not be adjusted because nuts are welded onto the bolts and other maintenance-unfriendly designs are used.
On the other end there are the more expensive skeleton types, typically and as far as I know exclusively used in silicone dolls, so I’m calling it a ‘silicone skeleton type’, even though not all silicone manufacturers use these more advanced skeletons. These skeletons can be precisely adjusted because silicone is poured at room temperature, and as a bonus, they are usually also maintenance-friendly.
If you are looking for longevity, look for a skeleton that does not become loose by itself. If a manufacturer classifies his skeleton as a trade secret, there is most probably a reason why he does not want you to see it.
3. My WM is 10 months old now. Most joints are still stiff enough to pose, although looser than when new. The only problem I have is with her knees, they’re pretty loose now, sufficiently so that if I lay her on her back to put boots on her feet, the weight of her boots will make her leg bent at the knee! She will still stand if you can wrangle her legs into the right place although she really does need a little support.
