I truly believe that the original idea items that were manufactured first before every company jumped on the band wagon, are SUPERIOR products. My board is at least 20 years old and it is one of those green thick mats that are very durable. I just looked and couldn't find a brand name!
I cut A LOT on my board and mostly on one end. It has a LOT of life left in it yet. I bought Fiscars gray board for cutting quicky things next to my machine and it has flaked and become very uneven.
I think companies are walking a very fine line between making a product that will wear out (so we have to buy more) and making it durable enough to want us to buy their product again. Fiscars doesn't cut it! LOL