My brother lives next door and is the absolute worst OWB owner possible.
He's had his stove for at least 5 years longer than I've been here and I've been here for over 19 years.
He burns green wood, he burns garbage, he burns millwork strippings, he never checks his water, he uses straight water, never uses any additives, he uses oil to start the fire, he leaves the door open a lot (since he burns green wood) he boils it over about 10 times a season, he's bumped the sides with a skid steer and peeled off the steel sheeting. He boiled it over so bad once I had to weld a patch in the top of the firebox from where the heat distorted it. It also melted the pex coming into it. The water level tube and temp gauge are melted away, he's never replaced the door seal rope, And yet he still heats his house and pole barn with it.
It's a CB6048.
I think using SS would be way better, but I don't know if it's needed. I guess if they've had problems then maybe it is needed...