What is it the wears out on a cartridge?

One thing I would like to know. Do some suspensions on some brands last more than others???

Jan Allaerts uses 120 old rubber for the suspension on his cartridges to avoid aging of the suspension.

I've heard that local climate impacts the rubber O-ring at the base of the cantilever - hot and dry causing it to become brittle more quickly.

The diamond tip will probably last for decades and enormous hours but cantilever and suspension will loose flexibility hence substantially degrading performance

I have read that whatever surrounds cantilivers will dry out and deteriorate with time and the cantiliver can actually fall out.

Modern suspensions use space-age polymers that won't exhibit deterioration for a few decades. In addition to that, their properties remain consistent over a large range of temp and humidity.

Line-contact or micro-ridge styli will last longer than conical or elliptical styli; because the former develop less friction (even though most cartridges that use them require higher VTF)

Keep your records clean. You don't HAVE to be a fanatic, but if you're NOT, then you'll wear out your ears faster than your stylus!

Don't use liquid stylus cleaners. First, they don't work. And second, if your cartridge has a tubular cantilever, the liquid could capillary up the tube and dissolve the suspension. Do use the Onzo Zero-Dust before every side (more for your ears than your stylus.) Every half dozen records or so, clean the stylus with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser device you have to make yourself (it's easy) For more info on the ME, do a forum search. But the ME is the ONLY thing that will clean your stylus sparkling new -- including the crud that builds up between the back of the diamond and the bottom of the cantilever. Follow with the Onzo to remove any loose debris.
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