RE: Are you a superstitious pilot?
I have no problem salvaging tail gear or whatever if it's usefull.
I do that all the time with wire harnesses, otherwise this hobby would get more expensive for me.
I'll second the "three consecutive problems" thing.
There seems to be a certain karma (although I get nauseated even *using* such a word) about airplanes.
At certain times all is well and the confidence level is up, and other times if there are a few loose ends, you feel like you're on borrowed time.