let the pics clarify, the wooden part is not cracking- just the hot plate. It is only a very uneducated guess that the holes might not be aligned... I get into more detail below.
Here are a few photos.
The first is of the original hot plate that came with my Lotus, after a few weeks use.
Here the crack is starts around 10 o'clock on the dial, and extends around the dimple to approximately 3 o'clock on the top of the lotus.
This next photo was taken a week ago when I sent another letter to Mendo. This photo shows the replacement plate cracking in the same exact pattern around the dimple. In this photo, the crack starts around 12 o'clock and blends back together around 3 o'clock.
This last photo was taken today, and now shows the crack has grown substantially since the pic above. It starts at 12 o'clock, and continues all the way around the dimple to about 5 o'clock.
Regarding tension on the screws, they are not heavily tightened. In fact, they are loose enough where I could easily rotate them another 3/4 turn with very little pressure.
Is there anything else that
I might have done to damage my plate? I certainly do not want Mendo coming out of pocket to repair damage I caused.
Regarding my theory of drill holes not being aligned correctly, this was just a longshot stab in the dark about what might be straining or fatiguing the metal. It is very unlikely that is the cause, it is simply the only possible answer I could think of...
I appreciate and welcome all y'alls thoughts and recommendations; I have learned so much in here!