You didnt save that tree!
You gave the owners false hope that the tree is more than what it is.
It amazes me to what lengths some arborists go to to preserve trees that shouldn't be preserved. That tree is going to hurt or kill someone someday.
Please describe the "thorough" inspection that was done which deemed it safe to preserve and climb. Dont take this personally, but I think you have your head up your arse. You got so worked up about whether or not you could "save" the tree, when you should have asked yourself whether you should.
I think if you ask the tree the same question, what might be the response?
Ask the owners about hope. That is not what was sold. What was is with the commitment to continued maintenance and inspection most any tree can live forever. How does that 3 000 yr old tree survive on rock escarpment with out our intervention.
Here we have skill, knowledge, tools and the cohones to make it so. Why would I choose anything else but maintainance.
We can put a man on the moon, peform feats of strength to the wonder and awe of the world and here we have the opportunity to work with the largest living organisms on the planet that provides our breath.
How are you rating this tree? What are your criteria. Where is your analysis of the data? When did you collect the observations.
Please, I remove trees and have been called a butcher and removal machine and take great pleasure in riggin wood and chunckin cookies from on high but there has got to be some major strikes against it and the target is just a landscape.
You got be there to see this old Vet. Its too cool of a tree to drop.
I will call them or drive by and have a look and watch for fractures and oddities in growth.
I have taken ownership of this tree.
Could, should, its not up to me its up to the tree. If tree said ctg, I would but that is not the case.
I monkeyed around in it and self rigged some descent size limbs on the house side.
It would take a very very unusual storm to blow that tree down.
I install the rope, weight the tree, wiggle, rock and shake and look for non rigid movement. if it rolls around like a wet paper roll or shows the untypical movement then I have some calculating to do based on past experience.
This case it was safe to climb and then once in the crown there is more of the same to do and during the whole process of pruning I perform the same rockin shakin to feel confident i have pruned enough or that I can comfortabley walk away from the tree knowing no one will be hurt and the home will not be damaged.
Hows that? Is this a clearer picture as to what was accomplished?
In five years the crown will be reinspected much the same way and at that time cultural recommendations will follow. I am confident, removal will not be one of them.
I am in the business of 1st maintaining trees and 2nd when necassary to remove.
The next generation of arborists are learning from us. What do you want them to hear?