Only after 18 months did the bearings wear out which isn't bad I don't think.
except they're supposed to be good for 50,000km, and are not user serviceable, so you lose the wheel for at least a week, even if serviced FOC (in Germany).
Well I don't think it is too much of an issue to be without the hub for a week after every 18 months of heavy offroad in shit conditions use. has the world gone mad? Apart from one 30 minute oil change I didn't do anything else to it in that entire time, I can't say that for my traditionally geared drivetrain.
As for the wearing in issue then I can hardly remember it being much different to how it is now when I first got it. The 'drag' issue is often brought up by Rohloff detractors. The wearing in drag (of which I barely noticed) is reported to go away and the only other source of drag is the sealing. I will admit that the seals produce more drag than on my other hubs but I guess that is the price you have to pay for a hub that is relatively well sealed.
How efficient are traditional gears when the chain is running at an angle? Always suprises me what it feels like if you have the bike in a workstand and shift through the gears.
Cue submersion story again!