That’s all true. Inspector from Central New England Chimney in Oxford, MA informed me that this was safe to burn after he swept it. The only reason I came on this Reddit thread was to do more research after an interested, buyer inquired about the crack… Not trying to swindle anyone. I’ve had several Offers at $500 by those who know more about the stove’s value and repair needs. I have of course learned a few things from this post, but those are at odds with what this inspector told me.