The system is made of thixomolded magnesium and CNC aluminum and is tested to the same drop survival standards as most other high end 15-16” notebooks.
The Verge timed their Graphics Module swap and did it in <3 minutes.
My impression from my (very breef) test is that replaceable display frame is compromising display integrity. I also do not like how motherboard is accessed from top lid, rather then bottom lid. In many laptops (Sky Lake Dell XPS 13) keyboard is screwed together with motherboard, and is protecting motherboard a bit. Removable bottom lid provides crash zone, and bends independently from motherboard, on Framework it sends every stress directly into motherboard.
Form factor of an "ultrabook" has been around for more than decade (Mac, XPS 13, Zenbooks..). People know tradeoffs and what to expect.
This is a new form factor. If its rudged, perhaps provide some videos with crash tests.
I did not determined anything with bottom lid. Perhaps they can answer motherboard is free floated, or crash zone is from sides, since it is in center.