My current iron is a Rowenta purchased in 2014. Although it is a steam iron, I made the decision to NOT use water in it because it was like the 3rd iron in as many years. I have well water and it has minerals in it that just eat up an iron. I use a spray bottle of water for "steam". So far this Rowenta is still going strong. I did some research on irons and found that it is the water and the "residue" it leaves behind in irons that cause the leaking, spitting, general problems.
I paid about $50 dollars for this iron, so it was not the most expensive Rowenta made but after 4 years it is just like new.
Point of all this......it may be your water that is causing the problems with your iron, not the iron itself.