Are Dreamcast discs really that fragile?

Other than the Shenmue disc I mentioned above, I can't recall ever having any issues with Dreamcast games. I did previously have a Dreamcast that had issues reading discs - but I think that was an issue with the console itself. EB Games gave me a replacement console (in box), and I've never had any issues with that console. I have a ton of US games, 3 Japanese games, and 2 PAL copies of Shenmue II. I can't remember ever having any issues with the games I own currently. The imports are all in pretty good condition. Some of the US games aren't in great condition, but they still load.

I've seen the kind of damage AlexRMC92 showed on other kinds of discs, though I don't remember ever seeing it on a GD-ROM. Possibly the label was torn off slightly, and it took the data layer with it.

 

I have had the same issue sadly. They do tend to have that trouble especially if you live in a humid area like Orlando!

 

As you've said that they were resurfaced from scratches, then they should be showing damage in a more uniform manner and not looking like oxidized disc rot which is what it looks more like to me in the photo as it seems that the labels are fine and that you're reporting playability issues it seems more along the lines that these particular discs from a particular manufacturing plant are rotting earlier than what they would be expected to. I would log down the pressing details from the underside of the disc and check online for any further complaints regarding specific titles/serial numbers OR against that manufacturer.

I've got PAL Dreamcast discs, I'm in Australia and we typically have worse weather... I haven't had any issues from scratched discs that have or haven't been resurfaced or any rot issues so far. Only issues I have had have been related to the former local postie's habit of absolutely chucking stuff at the front door and typically managing to crack discs or cause chips around the disc from the spindle.

I have a house in the US and have a decent amount of my games over there currently, I had my husband check them for me as I can't exactly do that currently and those ones that have survived a move overseas have also got no damage.

I've only had a couple of early DVDs start rotting recently, none of my games seem to be affected. Clock Tower 3 - PAL German variant had a chip near the spindle-hole of the disc and was unplayable halfway through the game, most of the damage seems to be cracked cases OR missing obi or manuals from things.

So, that's just why it seems to be looking to me - more like a particular lot is now getting media rot from a particular plant - I can't really see visual damage outside of massive scratches, uniform circular patches that would match with being buffered or resurfaced (depending on the method used) and the pinholes are a common complaint of media rot.

I've never really had any issues with resurfaced games unless the scratches have been that deep stuff will actually catch on those scratches that make it pretty clear that the disc is damaged.

Either way, that's pretty unlucky to have had it happen repeatedly in a row but unless it's the same company resurfacing, or the seller that you've bought them from... I'd still double-check other possibilities outside of it being general damage as the items do eventually degrade almost regardless of their condition.