Interesting post. I am surprised that hitting the curb with a normally loaded carry-on will bend the frame. Very surprised, unless you hit the curb right into the frame at a 90 degree angle which would be willful.

Sitting on a suitcase should be possible in any case once it is loaded. The contents will take the weight so that the shell doesn't break or bend.

I have had three wheels at once break off completely from my Rimowa 32" Multiwheel. Continental covered the repair and turn-around time was a week. Good service. It must have been a really big drop to break three wheels at once. The frame was not bent.

I also wonder where you paid more than $1000 for a Rimowa rollaboard. These should be well under 1000, with only the big guns going over.

Till