Was installed correctly I'm fairly sure. Was done by a mountain bike shop my Co worker had been going to for decades. By quickly I mean around 6 months to a year. I've never had to replace one before standing on the pedals like that.

When I took it in to get fixed (didn't have the right tool and probably wouldn't have done it right anyway) the dude told me the bearing was basically crushed and asked if I rocked back and forth at the lights. Told me not to and I've never had an issue since.

As for standing on them while climbing hills, maybe it wears more evenly?

I added the +leaning back trying to imply just sitting still and not countering the rotation would definately send you over the handlebars if you had to brake hard with front only :D

I used to bike to when and would tear it my breaking distance at red lights. Throwing myself behind the seat gave me less than a car length stopping distance from about in good weather.

Also don't balance on your pedals at the lights, it destroys the crank bearing very quick...

While correct for the UK you aren't thinking past that and assuming any other way is incorrect.

The reason driving on the right hand side of the road became popular in America is similar to left hand drive in the UK.

When the Americas were being colonised wagons and carriages were use extensively for shipping and transport. These had multiple horses to draw them. With the right hand being dominant it was benificial for the driver to be on the left of the wagon so his right arm was in the centre to control the animals. Because of this it was easier to see the road if you were on the right as it put the driver closer to the centre of the road. Therefore the roads and facilities were constructed to accommodate this.

Got to learn to use both brakes!

Rear brake = skid.

Front brake = over handle bars.

Both + leaning back = very fast stop.

It used to be always 50 years away, the progress in the last few of decades has indeed shifted the time line to a perpetual 20 years now. Hopefully in the next decade or 2 we can get that down to a perpetual 10 years!