You get oil in the engine when the AOS fails, but I seriously doubt it is enough to lock the engine and cause damage. As such, if the result of failure is not catastrophic, then I would not change it out. This is not a regular wear item. Who knows when or IF it will ever fail?
As for strut braces - I have both front and back in my car. Unless you track or autocross your car I seriously doubt you will notice any difference. The one thing I did to my suspension that made it AMAZING was track grade shocks and springs followed by good, sticky tires. If you want to make some good improvements I would focus there and only look at strut braces after you've done everything else that you can possibly do to the suspension and just have money to burn (which is pretty much what I did). 
Kirk
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2000 Boxster S - Gemballa body kit, GT3 front bumper, JRZ coilovers, lower stress bars
2003 911 Carrera 4S - TechArt body kit, TechArt coilovers, HRE wheels
1986 911 Carrera Targa - 3.2L, Euro pistons, 964 cams, steel slant nose widebody
1975 911S Targa - undergoing a full restoration and engine rebuild
Also In The Garage - '66 912, '69 912, '72 914 Chalon wide body, '73 914
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