My Formula 4s got flat spots, sounding like a moped when I ride the bowl. I’m looking for larger sizes from 56mm upwards. I need mostly for very smooth surfaces and high speed, but sometimes also rougher concrete. I don’t have a need for ultra soft wheels.
The only way I know about is spacers is that I asked the same question myself a while back when I ordered a complete and didn’t get any. I’ve always just replaced parts, so it never occurred to me that they disappeared many years ago until then.
I’m from Denmark in Europe. Mid 40s and still try to skate at least weekly if the weather is nice. There’s not a local park and hardly any skaters where I live (yet), but there are many concrete parks being build in neighbouring towns, so I drive around to those and mostly skate the bowls. I can’t keep up with the kids or even my former self, but I push myself to do at least do 1 new thing on every session.
Next year we will finally have a local park, so that will make it easier for me to get my kids along for longer sessions and maybe practice more efficiently. Being involved in the project has also been really interesting.