There you go again, trying the be the rotary engine glider expert.  It
is such a shame that it interrupted the trip to SnF.  I got invited to
go in a friends Lancair IV-P but am working all week.

It take a lot of confidence to go cross country after putting on a new
part of the intake system.  Even I (fly to mexico with a broken
turbo), would hesitate to do that.

I find it hard to believe that a little plastic could break [at least]
4/6 apex seals.  So the spark plug theory (of the two listed) is more
likely in my mind.

Other possibilities.. hmmm.  All seem very unlikely:  Other FOD,
detonation, loss of apex seal lubrication, lead deposits on the spark
plugs poking into the chamber, fuel contamination with grit or sand,
spark plugs actually broke and won't seal or are loose.

Glad to hear you are safe, bummer about the trip, interested to hear
the post mortum.

Dave Leonard