I just wanted to add my two cents into this conversation. I have been geocaching for 3 years, but I only cache during the summer season. I actually love the idea of the trackables and have purchased three of my own (one of which hasn't been heard from in over a year, but could possibly be stuck in a rural cache that is rarely found). I haven't given up that my missing TB won't eventually come back into circulation someday.
I would think that missing trackables happen for several legitimate reasons. One being that kids, for some uncanny reason, are able to find these geocaches without even knowing to look for them. I'm sure many of the swag and trackables are in some local kid's toybox - maybe actually even being played with.
I was once guilty of not moving along a geocoin. I had picked it up from one of the last caches I found in the fall, and then it started snowing. I found it in the bag I use for geocaching in the spring and had completely forgotten about it. Yes, some negligence on my part, but it was not a malicious act. I am actually one of the people who looks up the trackable's page to see what it's mission is and tries my best to carry out it's mission or at least send it on its way. I would also guess that some trackables go missing from cachers who cache TOO MUCH and simply can't keep up with the bookkeeping end of the process. And yes, those caches that are muggled or found/destroyed by city workers, etc.
I am willing to take the risk of my trackable going missing when I buy it, and the fact that it may disappear does not discourage me one bit. I choose to just keep hoping that it will someday reappear.
