DaveInNZMine is easy! It was 1993 and I was playing a cheap import drum set with mediocre cymbals and lightweight hardware. The bass drum pedal sucked, and I order the DW 5000! We were out of town at a gig and I showed off this red and black masterpiece and the band was really impressed. The first set of the night and the heel pin worked out (at the time the ends of the pin were spread with a hammer and center punch. Well, it wasn't done well on my bass drum pedal, and when the pin worked out, the toe of the footplate when through my bass drum head.
LUCKILY, the head wasn't a total loss. The gaping hole wasn't near the strike zone of the head the pedal went back together and as long as I paid attention to keep it pushed in, I was in good shape for the gig.
Within a year or two, DW revamped the designed and the pin was flanked by housing for bearings.
I don't know how much this had to do with my severe dislike of DW, but I am sure there was a long lasting distrust.