>Consider the volume of traffic going over big backbones though (e. g. 100gbps per second). Let's say one of the devices terminating this backbone has a piece of memory go bad that mangles IP payloads. At 8.3 Mpps (1500byte mtu line rate), a 1 in 4 billion chance would trigger on average every 9 minutes or so.

I think someone would notice when only one packet per nine minutes successfully traverses their 100 Gbps core switch. So mission accomplished. :)