Backinthe day,it was peening, centre-popping, castellated nut and split-pin or wire,or a half-nut (locknut)....the Aerotight? self-locking nut, withthe slots onthe top-face, tri-lobalnuts, Nylocknuts, are all relatively new inventions.
Peeningaltersthe srructureof the metalat a crystalline level....wether this was advantageous, I know not. In the early 60's I builtaluminium yacht-spars. Where a through-bolt was required,a stainless stud was used, components assembled to each side, half-nuts to secure,cut off surplus and then peen over. Effectively, you had both a nut AND a rivet-head securing the fittings.....they could be free to swivel but not loosen and there were no sharpprotrusions to catch hands,ropes or sails.
Dismantling invariably meant a hacksaw , file or grinder and a new stud/nuts. never heard of a failure.