I got mine from Jegs.

You install them with a heat gun, but every time the engine heat cycles, they contract. Very nice, simple, clean and effective.

....and the green writing comes off with a little thinner....

I sand the edges to make the sleeve look uniform, mine were very roughly cut.

Is 'Gates' the only one making these ?
I've seen 2 different cars "pop" off.
What a mess !

If the Gates units "popped off" then they were installed wrong or the wrong sizes were used. These have been used for years in the OEM area and do what they do very well.

Kyle and Stacy (DSE) have used these on quite a few cars and I've never heard of an issue.

Both cars I know of it happening to were using a solid upper tube (both blew the upper hoses) not a factory type rubber hose and both had big HP engines (perhaps the combination of a solid pipe and the movement of the engine iteself played a role) ?
Both were "pro" built cars too.

Agreed. DSE first installed them on my car a few years ago and I've never had any issue at all. They're also used on Class 8 semi's and with all the miles they run you can bet the reliability needs to be there. That said, I'm one of those guys whose luck says I should carry a few of the obvious spare parts around with me just in case (rad hoses, t'stat, 50/50 coolant, etc.) so if you run these fittings be sure to throw a few hose clamps in the spares box just in case (unless you want to carry a heat gun too!). One time use only obviously on the heat shrink clamps. If you need to remove them in a non-roadside situation, just melt the fitting with a soldering iron. Saves your hoses that way where a knife may not.