Originally posted by mccarvindh 1. should I replace this WG with a recent model and buy the extended warranty (that way I can use the spare batteries and stay with the brand that has worked for me in other formats so far).
Not sure the extended warranty would have helped. Most companies have disclaimers essentially saying that they won't cover for water intrusion. Sounds odd, but then again, they can't account for dirt or grit on the seals, which would definitely cause leaks.
Originally posted by mccarvindh 2. Do you think Pentax will consider my loyalty to the brand and offer some discount on a recent WG model? ....
Considering the clearance price I paid for this camera I do not know if it is worth it to send it in for repairs.
It almost certainly isn't worth actually repairing if you have to pay for it out of pocket, but if you send it in to their repair facility, that might get their "customer retention" process to kick in. Not sure about Ricoh, but lots of companies would consider your situation, even if it isn't covered under warranty, and offer you a reasonable discount on a refurbished unit or towards a replacement. Don't know if their repair facility (Precision Camera?) charges an initial handling fee, but if it's less than $20, it might be worth giving it a try just to see what they say. Beyond $20, I would probably use that towards some new clearance/closeout deals that pop up once in a while, if I had time.
Originally posted by mccarvindh 3. Is fanboyism blinding me? Should I just say "I love DSLRs from Pentax, but for waterproof I should look to "GpPro" or some other brand and move on?
As others have mentioned, the ruggedized camera market is flooded (no pun intended) with plenty of options. However, I like the Pentax menu system, and you mentioned you already have batteries and a charger, so I would probably tend to stick with it for those practical reasons. Don't underestimate the value of having a familiar/consistent user interface. For example, I have a K5 and a K3, and the minor differences in button placement drives me nuts sometimes.
Sorry you had problems. I have had a WG-3 for about a year or two and haven't had any problems with water intrusion.