I use after market rods as a last resort when I cannot find the dimensions I am looking for in an OEM rod. I have seen too many of these types of failures in aftermarket rods. Years of observations of hundreds of related failures points to poor designs, substandard metallurgy and quality control in the aftermarket connecting rods and cranks. Wrist pin bearing failures will not usually cause the rod to break like the one pictured unless you are drunk and completely oblivious to the noise the engine was making. These types of failures are the result of running a piston that was much heavier and at a much higher RPM than the rod was designed for or the heat treat was not right or they drilled the oiling holes in the side of the rod right where the stress is at a maximum. I think that being a mechanical engineer often gives more insight to the understanding of where stresses are located and if failures occur in those areas. Did the rod break through the oiling holes?
The quality control is higher in OEM parts. Engine manufactures have a lot more to loose when they produce the whole engine. Anytime I have ever had a problem like the rod pictured, the aftermarket parts manufacturers ALWAYS point the finger at the engine builder or the operator. They are sometimes correct when they point the finger at the crank builder, especially when the crank builder grinds the outside of the big end of the rod for case clearance for a stroker crank.
The price of an OEM rod could have been a big savings when you have this type of rod failure even if the OEM rod cost $500.00.
I am not saying that an OEM rod could have prevented this failure especially if the engine was over-reved with a big heavy piston.
