I don't see why even a $150 DAC shouldn't last 20+ years. What in a cheap product has a limited lifetime that isn't equally so in an expensive product?
No, if I buy something electronic, at any price, I expect it to work until I no longer want to use it.
S.
I am in general computer equipment hardware repair business.
These days it is not uncommon for a two year old laptop to break down, hell even few months old ones break down regularly (I know!).
Yet ten year old laptops, if has been treated well are still going! OK batteries don't, but the rest are mostly OK.
This is not luck.
These days manufacturers
Know how to manufacture at min. cost, that lasts the warranty period. If they can save a fraction of a cent here and there,
They Do!
It takes a dedicated company, valuing their reliability score to specify components and methods to increase the reliability life. This costs money! those fractions of cents, here and there soon add up to few dollars, and when you make 50000 units or more , it can hurt the bottom line.
There is no doubt some far east manufacturers devices do last, but not all devices that have been trimmed to minimize product cost.
Smaller, western manufacturers, can not compete with far eastern manufacturers on such deep cost cuttings.