Redstone torches break when powered as long as they are mounted to the side of a block. (On top of block, they don't break.) Pistons sometimes bug out and extend even when there is a block between a redstone power block and the piston. That's not supposed to happen. Also, redstone ticks are too slow, torch towers take far longer to update than they should.

SUMMARY: REDSTONE IS MALFUNCTIONING.