I really do think we quilter's abuse our irons as we use them constantly, so I think if I get a good year's usage out of one, I at least break even. If one lasts more than a year, it is a plus. We don't expect our rotary cutter blades, mats, and rulers to last forever either. I do want a good quality iron that gets hot enough to get the job done and I really prefer the metal bottom ones rather than the no stick surface ones. I actually am using two right now. One is a cheaper, smaller, lighter weight one and I do the pressing of the small pieces as I stitch them up just so the seams lay flat enough to stitch together. Then when the block grows, I give it a good press with the bigger, heavier, hotter iron to get it flatter.