Hi again,
In regard to more items available for failure in a Passive System compared to an Active System. I don't think that that argument holds water, I use a DriveRack from my Mixer, and I also have an old Crossover should the DriveRack Fail. Though I have never heard horror stories (doesn't mean it's never happenned) about Crossovers dying or for that Matter DSP's failing. Thankfully, most decent outboard Equipment today lives long stable lives! I think that the most common failure in a System, Active or Passive is a Power Amp. They seem to take the most abuse day in and day out, and some of that is due to keeping them in (or not) a good environment, with good air flow to keep them cool and good AC to keep them properly powered. Again unless you set your gains inproperly and clip alot, it is also rare to blow a speaker, again, not to say that one will not just fail of old age.
Active speakers just scare me in that, I do not have Options available to me to recover, my hands are tied! Short of carrying a spare speaker! It is easier and less space consuming to plan ahead for a Passive Failure and have a spare Crossover and Power Amp! In regard to Cabling, if you do not already carry lots of spare Mic, Speaker, Inter-connect, power, and even Guitar cables (to cover that lost Guitar Player, scratching his head) then you should, because this is the easiest backup, Active or Passive!
I have no grudge against those that Love the Active way.
Call me over-protective of my System, no scratch that, make me over-protective of getting through the gig with both stacks!
In time maybe I'll convert. At that time, I'll probably modify my cabs so that I can bypass the Power Amp, and I'll carry a Spare Power amp from my old Passive days! LOL!
Later,
Bud