Surburban SW6DE Hot WT issue, fix, and I have a question

Yes, fancy butt connectors

We used something like that at the phone company. They do the same function as a ScotchLock connector, the kind that pinch through the wire's insulation to make contact. Difference is, they contain a "gel" or "grease" perhaps Vaseline, to seal moisture out of the connections. This should prevent them from failing due to corrosion.