Cartridge reliability

I have 18 ADC carts, 1963-1983, still tip top. 

1962 Empire 880P. Perfect.

1958 and 1960 GE carts. Perfect.

1963-2001 15 Shure carts.  Perfect.

Ortofon? 2 bad ones last 5 years. 4 bad AT styli.

wolfie, I think it is your ears not the cartridges. 
Soundsmith is not his best bet if he does not like the cartridges. He is obviously quite aware he lives near them and Peter Ledermann is not a god. Joe Grado was a god. Edgar Villchur was a god. 
If the cartridge has a warranty and you are dealing with a good dealer you have nothing to worry about. If a cartridge is defective is some way it will manifest very quickly. In the case of the missing stylus it took 4 months. If nothing happens in a year nothing is going to happen unless the cartridge was damaged in some way. Match the cartridge to your arm and get the one you like. Dynavector makes a great cartridge if you have an arm on the heavy side. 

Indeed- I’ve known for quite some time that Peekskill was not far away- as is a dealers that I’ve been doing business with for 30 years and whom I implicitly trust. Thus proximity to Peekskill is not a determining factor for me. It’s just a potential convenience 

Personally, I would value proxmity to Soundsmith pretty high.  It would able me to hear all levels and properly choose.  Everyone has different values....I think Soundsmith cartridges are extremely good..especially the top of the range

Do you think your next cartridge must be your last cartridge?
Why? 

With advanced stylus profile like MR you can use a brand new cartridge for 2000 hrs according to the manufacturer. It's too much time if you're not playing records everyday.  

Then you can just buy something else. Do not try to find an MC cartridge that will last forever, especially those new MC. 

If you're so concerned about stylus wear or suspension condition then buy an MM cartridge and spare styli - this is the best you can do. 

Did you every try a good MM or MI ? If you want something user friendly then look for a cartridge with user replaceable stylus, but get the best MM/MI if you want superb quality.  

P.S. I want to correct a previous poster, Dynavector are NOT for heavy tonearms. Actually, Dynavector LOMC cartridges are high-ish compliance, they are great (Karat series for example) for mid mass tonearms.