gavreid
Pretty Words...
Actually I have a friend using an MC30S which he bought in the 80's. It gets very little use and is still on the original stylus. It had to be repaired at ESCO a few years back due to an accident and had the canti straightened and welded, but stylus still good.
On that basis I suggest suspension issues do not apply universally to all mc's, but obviously any rubber part can perish.
Ortofon, for example, use different rubber compositions to match their different stylus tips, making it very difficult to say I got 5 years from x so I can expect similar from y. Also you do wonder what kind of longevity tests the manufacturers do. If they're only specifying 500-1000 hours some will likely be more thorough than others.