I don't want to crap on any particular brand, but specifically one player has been the bane of my existence....
[Show spoiler] I bought a PS3 not terribly long after launch (40 GB) and then I added a second one... both died when under warranty, both were replaced under warranty, and then one died again outside of warranty, then last night the other one died, also well outside of the warranty period. Part of it that irks me, is the fact that the second one to die, probably had 30 hours IF THAT of play-time on it prior to it dying during the warranty period.... I never even played a single video game on it, then I got it back, and admit that I used it much more than I had the original one, but still no games etc... so not even close to what the "average" amount of use a PS3 probably gets, but the unit I got back just looked really "Beat up" you could tell it was cleaned up and possibly a new cover was put on it etc.... but the finish was worn away at one point, so whoever's PS3 they sent me after I sent mine (with 30 hours of use) in for repair, had a LOT of use probably.... but that's just another side-rant really to a much bigger problem.
As I said, I don't have anything against Sony... the old 36" WEGA I gave to a buddy will just not die! It's been used/abused/moved multiple times, etc... and it still has a beautiful picture (but weighs a TON) After the first PS3 died outside of warranty, I got a stand-alone sony 360 (I think that's what it was) from Costco, and then it died with very limited use... it just stopped reading discs..... and then I got a Sony BX-57 from Costco (which I still have, and love) because they gave me credit, and this one does Netflix, Pandora, and is WIFI.... Right now I'm looking at either another BX-57 or trying out a Samsung C6500 because it's only $155 from Amazon, and it does WIFI, Pandora, and Netflix too.... those are pretty much my three requirements for a player. I don't need another PS3 because I don't own any games. The Sony 360 was actually in the attic that leaked when we had roof issues, but was 12' or so away from any water, but humidity "may" have been a cause, but I just know that it stopped working the next time I tried to use it after setting up a new HT in our addition, and that was about 2+ months after the water leaked..... I had been using the remaining PS3 that worked in the living room during the time it took to prep the new HT etc... It really wasn't humid etc... so I really don't think the water damage to our roof was related to the player dying, but just giving full-disclosure here :D
So, summary.... I've had 2 PS3s that both died 2 times for a total of 4 failures, plus I had a Sony 360 die..... I would never get another PS3, but like I said, the Sony BX-57 is still probably on top of my list, so I am not some crazy "Sony-hater" I actually think Sony makes great products (not a fan of their AVRs, Speakers etc... but think they make great T.V.s, and Projectors and pretty much every other "small" appliance with their name on it.... I'm not ready to say their BD players aren't good yet, I do know that the PS3 just isn't for me though.
After a couple of expensive ones have died, my wife sees these things as "disposable" in the sense that you use them for awhile, and just have to replace them anyways, so she'd never let me spend 300+ again.
EDIT:
Which is sad, because I ALMOST had her talked into an OPPO-83 for our last player, but ended up with a different player that did everything we needed it to, because she saw it at Costco with a coupon..... (she doesn't actually want me to have a Region-Free player because she knows what that will mean in terms of my monthly movie purchases!!!!) 