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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Alexis Powell" data-source="post: 1366862" data-attributes="member: 5327">Nope, still don't see it--only that you have seen eyecups survive several years in storage without treatment.  I guess I'm not impressed because I've seen eyecups survive several years of _use_ without treatment.  That doesn't mean that treatment isn't superior.  In fact, treatment is expected to be superior since (as I've mentioned before) the primary factor in rubber degradation is exposure to oxygen and ozone, which are present in the dark!What is the basis for this claim? It doesn't match w/my experience, either with bino eyecups or in other situations.  For example, I knew a guy who was seriously into rubber band powered airplanes. Apparently, it is common practice to keep the rubber bands used for these planes immersed in Armorall in sealed plastic bags. Such bands do not soften or become sticky.  Perhaps they are a bit messy when first removed from the bag?!FYI, Nikon eyecups are not shipped in a sealed package.Since we will apparently never agree on the facts surrounding the nature of rubber deterioration or the properties of Armorall (303, etc), I guess I will conclude by simply issuing a counter guarantee: that no matter how long eyecups might last without treatment, they will last longer with treatment, and they will not be damaged by such treatment. Your overkill is my (closer to) optimal care.--AP</blockquote>