How long should components last?

Long established American brands are the best bet. Many pioneered the industry and are still with us after 80+ years. Evan companies that folded decades ago still have very solid examples from the 1950s and 1960s still in widespread use and are running strong and still sounding great. I think there are very few brands from outside the United States that can boast such a track record. The Japanese still have to prove themselves since we have at least a twenty-year head start on them.

Yes they were the same brand. And are from Austria thus my allusion to German luxury cars which after having spoken to a number of mechanics are infamous for their lack of reliability and the not the wisest decision in purchasing a car. But I guess if you have the money and buy them new and after 5 they go down you can buy another the pleasure in driving them is worth it.

For some reason we believe that Germans and Austrians are the best in taking great pride in their products. It seems actually anything but. To be worthless after 5 years seems a bit much. 

I did have that same experience, perhaps 15 years ago with a very high-end AV receiver that failed after about 36 months, just beyond the warranty period.  The manufacturer had moved on to the next model--cosmetic changees and more power but little else changed--and my model was discontinued.  I figured it should be easy to fix, but, no.  It seems this model of receiver had a very unique computer chip in it that had flaws, causing the chip producer to halt production.  Moreover, there was no way to reprogram things to accept another chip.  So, an AV receiver from an elite line of products bit the dust.  Fortunately, my dealer, from whom I had purchased a number of components, took mercy on me and sold me another brand AV receiver at what I am sure was pretty close to his cost.

I have NOT had a similar experience with manufacturers of my audio equipment.  I have upgrade my 1980s/90s system over the past four years, and everything I have purchased is working just fine.

Sorry I couldn't answer your DM Roxy but the answer is I have been in this hobby a long time and recall hearing similar stories about them.   

It’s really all about probabilities. The probabilities of failure get lower with higher quality of design and construction, they never go to zero... but come pretty close. They seldom get into double digits on the other end.

Then there is the probability that you get one that fails and the age of the unit.

Flying is unbelievably safe, but someone was on the modern plane that crashed. flying on a commercial airliner is safer than flying in an old single engine plane in the jungle somewhere.