iThanks for the explanation, you are assuming that someone hamfisted enough to crunch the gears will be sufficiently mechanically sensitive to moderate the force they apply to the gear stick when things go all crunchy, I think that is unlikely. I've seen the sort of damage you allude to on non synchromesh gearboxes, specifically 1930s Bentleys which have a notoriously tricky box and on some straight cut racing boxes. Modern mass production gearboxes are fitted with helical cut gears that are by nature self aligning so significant damage is rare unless there is under lubrication and consequential heat damage. I think the reason that manufacturers fit flexible bushes is mostly that of NVH and to make it things easier on the production line.
For the same reason racing cars use spherical bearings in gear linkages your bronze beauties will aid precision but I doubt if they will put your gearbox at any greater risk of damage or materially speed up gear changes, but as you say they give a more precise feel to the stick and it's always nice to feel that you are driving something a little different to the crowd.
Enjoy your bushes they are a lot more sensible than many of the modifications I have cruelly subjected my cars to over the past 50 plus years!
