"Knock Link" for Early IMS Failure Indication?
 

I see that Link Engine Management Systems has upgraded their Knock Link to a new digital system that cancels out engine noise and only looks for actual knock:

KnockLink G4 - visual detonation warning — Link Engine Management Systems - plug-in & wire-in aftermarket ECU's

Their old system had multiple lights though that not only detect and show knock, but also allows you to monitor overall engine noise/vibration:

AVO Turboworld Australia : Knocklink [UUX8596IALIN] - $170.00

I've had one of the old ones installed in my 2000 Boxster S for the last seven years. I have it set to maximum sensitivity and it really does pick up differences in engine noise. For example, I commute at around 77 MPH on the highway. One day going in to work I noticed that I kept getting really low level blips on the Knock Link, which is not usual. When I pulled into work I discovered that I had been cruising in 5th gear instead of my normal 6th gear. So just the slightly higher revs alone caused the Knock Link to indicate to me that something was amiss.

Any thoughts on the potential benefit in using one of these to monitor the IMS bearing and potentially indicate early failure. Would the IMS bearing failure cause a significant increase in vibration/noise that could be detected this way?

I'm just curious. I am well aware of the IMS Guardian product, but the Knock Link is a fraction of the cost. I wanted to throw this out to others (as I already have one) as another potential option up for discussion.

Kirk