Originally posted by cswiger:

Real bows and crossbows will break if you try to keep them under tension all of the time. That's why you string your bow before using it and need to unstring it afterwards.

This tidbit is brought to you by the Archery merit badge.

100% this is the truth of it. Crossbows were not used in single combat, they were used behind the lines shooting at cavalry and infantry or from defensive fortifications. Even after the invention of the crossbow, the British Long Bow continued to be the go-to ranged weapon on the attack because of the rate of fire, and even then was usually used behind a line of infantry to protect them. Crossbow =/= assault weapon.