Round brass thimble strength?

[Brion Toss]

Hi all,
I really thought the answer was obvious: no. Round thimbles are rarely seen outside of reinforced, load-sharing places, like sail clews. They are easy to tie to (think: sheets), and easy to fabricate around. But they are also easier to deform, as their constant radius leads to compression of the side walls in mid-ring. Compare this with a teardrop thimble, narrower for a given radius at the load, and the shape is kinder to the line attached, as the legs are pushed apart so. You'll find rings in heavy-duty situations, where there shape has some advantage, but they must have stoutness to compensate for geometry.
I use round thimbles for lifelines and lazyjacks, primarily. Might not hold up too well under heavy runner loads. Ring Hitch, anyone?
Fair leads,
Brion Toss