I totally agree that the angled Centuri Deflector was much better than the Estes flat-plate.
Estes should have changed theirs to match the Centuri design. FAR better at keeping "blast debris" off the tail of rocket.
The Estes design only served to protect the PAD, not the rocket.
It actually deflects the blast back UP at the ROCKET.

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When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, TURMOIL, FIASCOS, and HAVOC !