I have not had any issues with the ears either…. I did try a coil stiffener though, but did not see and advantage in the one I had and took it off.
I remember people complaining about the XTerra coils experiencing cracked and broken ears too, but I never had one issue with any of the coils I had and still have.
I will say that I did not like the coil on the Equinox flopping down every time I set it down to dig a target, and after a couple outings with it, I made a bracket to keep it in position without having to tightened the coil bolt.
Been using it for the last two and a half years like this with no issues.