and as a consequence, if one's model of lithosphere, flight, fragmentation, thermal and shock effects on Mars does not explain it, then that model MUST BE flawed, of necessity -

It is hard to imagine effects which take place at altitude on Earth taking place as close to the surface as they do on Mars, but that is exactly what happens.

A pea sized or smaller meteor grain throws off enough energy to be seen at distances 1,000's of kilometers here on Earth. The energy release immediate to it must be incredible.

Clearly this heat moves at the speed of light, which is to say faster than the streaking body. On Mars, this it turn should free the water now known to exist (from MGS data) just below the surface of Mars, along with the CO2 it holds in place. The in turn produces a thicker medium for the creation of shockwave by the entering body and for the propagation of that shockwave.

As for the great depths observed in these linear trenches on Mars, in some cases multiple fragments of a fragmented body can and do follow the same line of flight, and in turn the entry of each of these fragments could and do deepen the newly created linear trench - and this phenomena is also observed.

There simply is no other explanation for the linearity seen in these features other than oblique entry - and thus ultimately the data force me to disagree (in a very minor way) with your model.

best wishes -
ep