Those I have used here, both civvy and military, have been robustly built for everyday wear. They are packed and certified, but in a wearable form. Tell-tale threads indicate that the jacket has not been opened since last service and professional packing, and these are checked by each user (or should be) and should only ever be tied by certified servicing personnel.
With regular servicing they seem to last well, even under trying conditions. I understand NAC working under the US system, but surely safety requires that the jacket be worn. Who wants to struggle into a jacket while trying to make the best attempt to glide to land, or as close as possible?