NMEA 2000 is WAY easier to set up, run and maintain than the 0183 flavor it replaced. All new Raymarine, B&G and Simrad electronics are standard NMEA 2000 interfaces - they have done away with their older proprietary stuff. That "shunt" on the end of a network branch is actually a termination resistor and is needed to prevent ghost signals and such. I don't think you can blame the technology for someone unplugging it. The same can be said for battery chargers, reefers, etc - and is no different than user error on old technology (rigs have been lost because someone forgot to replace the cotter pin).

Mark