Ron,

My BrailleNotes have lasted several years and I don't send them in more than 
once a year and sometimes I don't send them in at all.  Mine have been quite 
rugged, though not as rugged than the Perkins brailler.  BNs are, or should 
be, more rugged than you think.  I use mine on a regular basis, day after 
day.

I also have a BrailleWave from HandyTech and the manual says I don't need to 
send it in more than once every two years.

A person can buy approximately 27 braille displays for the amount it would 
take to buy one house.

Those of us who use braille displays have terrible withdrawal symptoms, 
unless we have two, when we send them in for service.  Since the user is the 
one who has to be without the displays, the user should send them in only 
when it's absolutely necessary.

I also don't believe in renewing maintenance agreements.  I used to renew 
mine every year but I've decided I won't do it anymore.  I figure if a 
display is any good, it should last for many years and the maintenance 
agreement payments can be saved until the next time I need to buy a new one. 
I've been using braille displays since 1991.

Terri Amateur Radio call sign KF6CA.