In all fairness, that watch was obviously worn hard - as evidenced by the missing observatory medallion and crappy condition. However, I certainly agree that those end links on the stretch bracelets, regardless of brand, usually kill the inside of lugs.
Those awful stretchy bracelets are a pretty good sign that you're buying an 'honest' watch though...here's one that came in last week, I had to get the heavy gear out to remove the bracelet! Worth it though
What's really crazy is that it's a steel case - usually this kind of damage is suffered only by the softer gold cases. This watch has been worn.
I was thinking the same thing, and that there must have been something abrasive and gritty between the end-links and the lug surface to cause damage so severe.
There was some effort to bring these things back a year or two ago... how about no. Lets leave these things, Corfam, and all of the rest of the crap from that era no-one wants in the past.
I once bought a Rolex 6262 on a stretch Speidel band. Lugs were in terrific shape though. Still have the crappy band but sold the watch.
Bingo - the relative motion between the end link and the case will still cause wear, even if the end link is not spring loaded. This is why proper end links have a small tab to keep the link stationary in relation to the case.
In that case, I'll have to be careful with my vintage bracelets. I don't have any stretchy ones, but I have quite a few with straight cylindrical end-links.
That's why you put the watch on the right wrist at the appropriate time. We should consider doing a prospective study. Who's in?