There are more electrolytics being made than ever before: materials are better, the market is there, the technology is better understood. There's no need to deal with "suspect offshore caps" these days. Use good parts, and you don't need makeshift fixes.

I like to add bleeder resistors when rebuilding a set for safety sake. Never going to get agreement of whether "load balancing" is otherwise needed for E-Caps in series.

Just observe voltage limitations. You can always put two resistors in series to double voltage ratings. A lot of inexpensive 1/4 watt types cannot be trusted beyond 200 volts. Don't ask.

Agreed .

I still, however, preserve my amicability for all comers.....

Larry

Open a 600 vdc tubular electrolytic and see what is inside.

Balancing resistors are nice, but they are also one more thing that can fail.
But, they do act as a bleeders which is important.

You want to start a real argument try and convince folks who insist that
reverse polarity diodes are required when using back to back electrolytics
to make a non-polarized capacitor--despite the fact both caps remain
charged for the complete AC cycle folks won't let go of that myth
either.

Pete