I hope you're right. As I said, my logic was entirely based on exactly what you've said: all the compression on the balls is from the races (why else would they have shims and the belleville washer/spring?). The carrier just keeps the balls in place and transfers the rotational movement from the pulley. No real "drive" pressure.
The shop owner did say that the coating itself will "glaze" but it won't wear off. This is the same coating that you see on piston skirts for high-performance applications. I figure if it won't wear off of a piston skirt, it should be fine on the ball-carrier.
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