If there is a problem with the hardware, we replace the defective parts. The plane that won the XFC last week used 100% stock hardware, with the exception of the fuel and smoke tanks (these were made from water bottles).
The Dubro ball links work fine: I have tried it myself to experiment. However, if you decide to go that route, you need to CA the gold clevis into place so it doesn't rotate, or/and lock it into place with a counter nut.
The aileron bolts: on my personal plane, the inner clevis is screwed all the way down against the cone post, and the bolt is flush. These are 70mm Steel (not stainless) bolts, which has never been an issue. The 60mm bolts (too short the larger planes) come from the factory with the sets, and are used "as is" in the 50cc planes.
As you move toward the wing tip, the clevis is father up from the cone post, preserving the equal distance from the hinge line as the aileron gets thinner.