I think the IP68-ing / waterproofing (or at very least water-resistance-ing) is an enormous part of their selling point and why they're used by the military / first responders / surveyors.

But yes ... for your average consumer I think this wouldn't be a significant value-add!

I think what I was basically conceiving of here was a tablet that has the foam case "built in" (ie, it's non-removable, part of the product, so one never has to worry about whether the case is on or not). And some tougher glass that's part of the natural display too (if gorilla glass isn't a gimmick that looks like what I need). Both these features seem pretty standard in ruggedized / industrial tablets (the type you sometimes see surveyors using in the 'field'). So I guess that's probably where I need to be looking. Unfortunately .... they cost a pretty penny!

I'm guessing there are one of two explanations:

1. I'm extrapolating from two cases that happened in quick succession (a Samsung Galaxy tablet that didn't survive a trip in a backpack). And a portable monitor that had about two uses and was sitting on my bookshelf for the past two years. I checked it yesterday to discover that the screen had been cracked. This could be just bad luck.
2. Another credible explanation is that cheap tablets (the Samsung was < $150 and the portable monitor was a budget one also) ... truly have inferior screens that break more easily.

Otherwise both these gadgets had the same treatment more or less: within cases and within the laptop sleeve of a not overly stuffed backpack. I thought (I accept that I may be mistaken) that that was within the parameters of proper handling/care.

ETA:

I'm discovering the world of ruggedized tablets. They cost a lot more but between the shockproofing and the (apparently) gorilla glass screens ... I'm wondering if this might be the kind of product I was looking for.