Assuming the scenario I outlined is what actually happened to your wheel:So, what kind of hypothetical modification(s) can you propose to the events of the story of my wheel failure if it had better spokes (either 13s with washers at both sides with the same nameless rim or 13s with washers only on the hub side)? i.e. what could've happened.
Then if the rim had *always* been laced with whatever the appropriate spokes were for it, vs ones that required too high a tension and damaged the rim, then the wheel would just keep working like it's supposed to.
If you ever hit something hard enough / etc to damage the rim itself such that it deforms and loosens spokes, then it would still fail, because the spokes are then loosened...but if you stopped right then and retensioned the spokes, assuming the spokes weren't damaged at the same time as the rim, and could accept the out-of-roundness and lateral displacement of the rim you get in the bargain (probably forcing you to disconnect the rim brakes from it so they won't rub on it), the wheel would continue to be a wheel and you could keep riding.
I've had that happen on normal bicycle wheels, and even on one of the SB Cruiser's wheels...I am still using that wheel on SBC...
But if I had the scenario where the spokes damaged the rim from too high tension, nothing will fix the wheel without a new rim apprporiate to the usage, and appropriate spokes for that rim.