Different experiences and preferences for different folks.

Manufacturers of capacitors have decried this use for years.

If the relay concept was as reliable as a solid state circuit which delivers a stable time constant and bounce-free response, why have manufacturers superceded the use of relays with monolithic circuitry in even the simplest devices?

Not to mention the fact the the 555 version would be about 1/10 the size of the relay concept shown with a cost parity using Rad Shack parts.