Bags take a beating, and those flight cases are heavy. Sometimes they last, sometimes they don't, it's partly luck of the draw with the less expensive bags. After going through a bag every couple months though, you say "to hell with this" and end up getting one good bag that will last you more than a couple years. Yeah, it costs a little more, and it might cost a little more in the long run even, but there's something to be said about being able to rely on your bag and having the "luxury" of not having to deal with the hassle of replacing it every 6 months.