What were you doing right before it happened, @the_troy? I fried a board once by using the wrong power supply, just a simple voltage mix-up. Could it have been a short from something metal touching it, or maybe even some spilled liquid? Sometimes a power surge from the wall outlet can do it too if there's no good surge protector. Figuring out the exact mistake is the best way to make sure it never happens again!

Have you seen what happens after a big storm? Grass roots spread out and really lock the dirt down. Those other plants often have shallow roots that can't handle the wash. I've watched slopes with fancy covers just wash away in no time. Grass might not look as nice, but it does the job better. It's all about what actually works, not just what looks good.