Re: Left cuff shows an identical wrinkle in both the capped, and uncapped pics . . .
An identical wrinkle?!
Well, I guess that's what happens when I stare at Mars pics for a few years.
Anyway, those who live by the binos (i.e., military OPs) take care of their binos, and the lenses are covered when not in use. Those who do not live by the binos (i.e., just about any city-suit) will invariably lift the fieldman's binos and take a look without removing the covers -- be he Clinton, Bush -- or even the Hubble telescope and Mars Pathfinder.
Embarrassments do occur. Let us now be thankful that this one did not require 250 million tax dollars to correct. As Larry stated, the repair likely cost no more than a chuckled review of the binocular handbook (do binos have a -10, Larry?).
Dan