I don't quite see why you think transporting wafers 170 micrometers thick is unreal or in some way extreme. 170 micrometers is the same thickness as 135 gsm art paper.
edit - Also, 170 micrometers is positively beefy compared to what is coming down the line. 1 micrometer thick flexible cells have already been developed - https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2016/06/20/New-flexible-sol... -