Its not so much that they have a shelf life as it is that completely gas tight packaging is really, really hard to make. And expensive. And heavy. Some water vapor gets into them over time, and slowly degrades the performance.

And I like that stove. Tiny. But I can't picture a 110g cartridge- how big is it assembled?
_________________________
-IronRaven

When a man dare not speak without malice for fear of giving insult, that is when truth starts to die. Truth is the truest freedom.