I wouldn't want them in a kitchen but in my bathroom they're fine. You aren't turning water off and on that much in a lavatory sink. I also find cross handles are easier to finely adjust. The only drawback is for old folks with arthritis or whatnot, but lever handles can always be added when you reach that far-distant day. Generations of children grew up with cross handles, so I don't know where the new helplessness comes from. Plus, I'd think levers would make it easier for careless kids to jam the pedal to the metal and break something.

I do agree that it's not fun to turn on the one-handled faucet and burn yourself because the hot water was just used. This NEVER happens to me. But I often burned myself when I had a double-handle faucet. In fact, I got a single-handle because the water in my apartment comes out at something like 150 degrees (and I can't turn it down; it's an apt. bldg). AND because the cold water comes out at 40 degree--very unpleasant. W/ the double handle, it was hard to tell by looking at it, how far you'd turned it on--was the hot all the way, or only a little? Of course, the design of the handle made that worse. But even on the lever handle, where it was easier to tell how far I'd turned it, I also had to use two hands to get comfortable water for rinsing dishes. And since I'd wash a couple of things, then rinse, then turn the water off, then repeat, this was a major pain. It was always two or three steps to get to the perfect water temperature--and being "off perfect" was dangerous if not tremendously unpleasant. I always lift the handle in the middle when I'm just washing my hands; I never turn on only the hot (which used to happen w/ two handles, because I'd be holding a plate in one hand) unless I deliberately do so. And I have memorized where to lift the handle to get "hot but not scalding" when I am washing things by hand (which I do for a few things)--that's about 10 o'clock. I find it SO much easier to get exactly the temperature I want from the very beginning. I would never go back to a double handle. I don't care what they look like.

On a day to day basis, I much prefer a one handle faucet. Before I changed my countertops I noticed my sister's sink had a lot of water around the faucet - and running down the island countertop (her sink is in her island.) She now keeps a small towel there to catch the water, but this water comes from her wet hands turning the water on an off. She actually has a single handle, but I figured it would be twice as bad with two. I have my handle positioned over the sink so drips fall into the sink. https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~58831076 This doesn't address your parts issue, but my faucet was very heavy and my plumber thought it was a good faucet. Several years ago my kitchen faucet died, and I bought a home center Delta to get me by for a while. The faucet looked sad after a year - the faux chrome peeling off. Surprisingly, the faucet, even with the plastic parts, lasted many years till I could change out my counters. It wasn't great, but it worked, did not drip or leak. I am not recommending plastic parts by any means, but a good name brand bought at a plumb supply shop or ordered through a reputable online company should last many years. (Some name brands like Delta also make "home center price faucets" and these are mostly plastic and not recommended.) Generally, there is a standard width from faucet to handle which makes replacing faucets easier - but I agree, a single handle is a safe way to go. I do really like my bathroom delta faucets - most over 15 years old. However, my Delta replacement cartridges, which are easy to change out, have not lasted as long as the original cartridges.

I think it must be the angle on the picture, but the Phillips head bolt is just the bolt to the larger ovalish shaped nut (brass colored). No nut in between. Technically, I guess it's bolt-ovalnut-washer. One thing I'm not getting - I think the Phillips bolts are just putting pressure for the oval nut to the rusted washer that's above it. They don't actually go into any receiving cavity above. I don't recall having to align the screws to a hole - just hand tighten the oval nut to where ever it stops, then tighten the Philipps screw. So I'm wondering, if I get the oval nut to turn, the Phillips bolts just come along for the ride, right? So it may not matter that I couldn't get them out first, no? And really I'm not planning to keep the faucet so if it damages it if there were receiving holes, so what? As long as it doesn't damage the sink basin (which is stainless steel with a lip and 4 holes) btw, I ordered an extra large-jaw basin wrench. I believe it should work with the oval nut (one reviewer mention having a delta sink with the oval nut).