A high end rod shoould last a lifetime. I own or have owned a bunch of Loomis, Lamiglas, Sage, St. Croix.... you name it Ive owned it. I cant recall the last time I broke a rod while fishing. Most breakages I have had occurred at home.

If you use the rod the way it was designed to be used it should never break.

If you dot want to spend $200 plus on a nice rod. Check out the Allstar Elite series. I now have a couple of them. Sweet rods for the money.