>     > years' good machine...that will NOT die in the next
>     > year...
>
> Sadly it's been my experience that newer machines (I think
> this may be a PC thing especially) can be less reliable than
> the gear they're supposed to replace.  Hopefully the newer,

I have exactly the same experience.

My old 486's was working 5-10 years, and will do next 10 years.
The only thing i have to repair in them was replacing clock battery.

>   CY> (RAM, Power and cooling are key to the life of a
>     > computer).
>
> Kind of: certainly don't skimp on the cooling, but I'd
> rather not generate the heat in the first place.

EXACTLY. that's why i run 486/66 at 50, 486/40 at 25 etc...

Still enough power but no need to cool.