Thanks to all respondents for your useful and informative inputs. Thoughts that remain with me include: no first hand experience of chain failure, either S/S or galvanised, has yet emerged; how many vessels in the general boating community have G4 chain, anyhow; I am, essentially, a fair-weather weekend boatie, operating within sheltered anchorages; the self-cleaning aspects of stainless chain are very valuable (though do not, of course, outweigh the safety considerations.); I could end-for-end my existing chain (if I decide that way) and that may ameliorate any progression of work-hardening in the first 30-40 metres. Thanks, everyone.
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