Originally posted by VisualDarkness Well, the sensor problems with stains and more affected all of K-5, D700 and A77 so it's hardly a Pentax issue. The SDM problems on the other hand is probably the most damaging thing to the Pentax quality in the eyes of the customers. All brands have duds and many of them, just check this link out and you will see all of the problems you mentioned above but for other brands.
LensRentals.com - Lensrentals Repair Data: January – July 2012 LensRentals.com - Lens Repair Data 2011
Also note how long service times Nikon, Sony and Zeiss have and niether Voigtlander nor Rokinon even managed to rapair lenses within 60 days! I'm spoiled by the Pentax service here in Sweden with their goal of 3-4 days for service, something they've managed to stay within for both me and my brother!
So I don't really see why Pentax is so much worse than other makers in your eyes.
Some people just like to complain. If there's no reason to complain in their own lives, they read about other people who have had problems, and take on their complaints. Soon, they are looking at the issues world wide and complaining about every little thing that happens anywhere in the world. The ones who get paid we call "news reporters", the ones who don't get paid "Pentax critics". The odd thing is, how odd they seem to view those of us who are basically happy with the state of the world, who buy stuff knowing that we may get a lemon, no matter what we buy from where, who buy the extended warranty for stuff we want but may not be able to replace out of pocket if it fails. My Henry's warranty says, three repairs and I get a new one, the third time it goes in for repair, anytime within the 3 years of the warranty."
I listened to all the bitching on here about SDM, and bought a DA*60-250, and didn't buy the extended warranty. It's looking like a pretty good decision. There were people on here who suggested I was pretty crazy. Now they'll say I was lucky. They are always right, even when they're wrong.
Some people are born with a god given right to complain. It must be in the constitution somewhere,
You have options people. Maybe none that you like, but options.
The best way to guard against SDM failure in the DA* 16-50 is a Tamron 17-50 as a back up. One probably doesn't cost much more than the extended warranty. I paid less than $400 for mine. You get better IQ while you Pentax lens is away for repair. That should make you happy, even thought the 16-50 will make you grumpy.
When I go to homeless neighbourhoods I never take more money in my pocket than I can happily give away. Use the same philosophy going into a camera store. Decide what amount you can afford to give to the "homeless camera manufacturers" , they'll be sitting in the camera stores with their hands out. Realize that whatever they sell you, it's not going to last forever and be happy for every day you have use of it. If it fails, you know enough about it to decide if you're going to replace it. There are great non-SDM lenses, no one forced you to buy SDM. You learned something. Learning something is worth something, and isn't always cheap. Be happy with what you learn, but don't obsess on your disappointments.