> Some claim matter falling into a black hole never really does from the point of view of an outside observer.
Such claims are wrong. The correct statement is that the outside observer never sees the matter reaching or falling inside the event horizon. But that's not because it never happens; it's because the spacetime geometry prevents light emitted at or beneath the horizon from getting back out to the outside observer.
Such claims are wrong. The correct statement is that the outside observer never sees the matter reaching or falling inside the event horizon. But that's not because it never happens; it's because the spacetime geometry prevents light emitted at or beneath the horizon from getting back out to the outside observer.