1. Pros and cons, but I love mine. They make me feel more solid when I am riding, hanging on to a solid handle. Cons: when you are doing lessons, or just throwing the handle to someone in the water, DO NOT HIT THEM... it hurts to get hit in the head by a carbon handle.
2. My camp had 4 or 5 and I never saw one break... but I am sure it could happen. I wouldn't imagine it would happen any more than a regular rope handle, if not less.
3. SL Carbon kicks ass. I loved the Eclipse