I have 14 PS1 engines, all with BCRs. Have never 'lost' one to a scrambled board.
Among those is the UP Big Boy that came in the first Dealer Appreciation package. It sat untested, unused for 20+ years. (layout accommodation issue) Before I ever fired it up, I replaced the old white battery with a BCR. Brought it up to 10v for 1 minute. Absolutely perfect performance thereafter!
Total believer here.
KD