I had never experienced a failure before until today.  The ignition would shut off with no warning.  I had started with a cold engine this morning and the first time it died I was still in my neighborhood.  It would restart but would only run for a few seconds.  There is one questionable solder joint where I had soldered the fine black and white distributor wires, to replace the factory plug IAW with factory service bulletin.  I jiggled that connection while the engine was idling and it did not make a difference in the run/no run situation.  So I suspected the module.  I turned around and headed for home. I replaced the module with an AMC branded replacement and so far the problem is solved.  

If I had a wife or child who was driving this car, I would replace that Prestolite system and I can understand why thousands of people have done so over the years.  But I am driving the car myself, have an extra module at all times, and carry a few tools.  Besides, I am a slow learner and a bit of a Luddite.

Joe

I do the exact same thing with my 1977.

Maintain the connections, keep a spare module in the trunk. If the engine misfires or stalls after it warms up, I replace the module on the side of the road and keep driving. No tools required. I use NAPA modules which have a lifetime warranty an I keep the receipts in the glove box so when a module fries I just exchange it for a new one free of charge no matter what NAPA store I go to. 

Not that bad to deal with. If I didn't know my car and didn't know what I was doing, I'd be pissed by frying a module every 50,000 miles, but I do know what I am doing and I don't mind carrying spare modules that cost me nothing to replace. 

Prestolite runs pretty darn good when the connections and module are good. It doesn't have more spark voltage than points, but it has a longer spark duration which is nice and it's more stable at high RPM. Variable dwell too.

I carry a spare ignition coil too. I've lost two coils in the last 50,000 miles so I think Prestolite may be hard on the coils. They are standard points coils but it may just work them harder than points do. Again, spare in the trunk and receipt in the glove box. 

always carried a spare module, never had a problem.

Maybe it was the cool Accel sticker I put on the control box that saved it 

if I recal correctly, I mounted the module in a cool spot forward of the radiator which might have helped.

The only igniton issues I ever had in AMC's or Jeeps was frying a 4.0L coil by cranking the engine with the coil wire removed,

and a 4.0L rotor that broke in half,

^the engine still somehow ran (very poorly) with just 1/2 a rotor.