I have never had problems with a bungie cord style board rack. Never. Not one single failure. Never. Nada. I drive with my boards in the board racks everywhere. Thats many, many weeks and thousands of miles over many years.
It is time for me to buy a 2003 X-2. I don't want the boat for the simple reason it is the same as the 2001, and 2002--just with cruddy board racks.
The 2004 racks look a little nicer, but they look a lot less functional. Anyone 100% confident the boards will in stay in the racks through rough water or bouncy roads. I know I am not.
The bungie straps offered physical restraint--the new method uses only friction. Why do I think the force required to move an unlocked handle or slide the board is far less than force needed to snap a bungie cord?
As a side note--Mastercraft is offering the bungie style board racks as well. I will be getting the reliable style on my 2003.
My only thinking is the designer that did the messed up ballast tanks for so many years got put on board rack design when MC decided to license PureVert. The guy shoudl get a job at Hyperlight designing bindings!