How reliable are nugget ice makers long-term?

This is the biggest recurring concern. Specialist-community threads (notably r/IceChewersAnonymous and r/GEappliances) repeatedly flag GE Opal units dying within one to three years and running hot, while early GoveeLife owners report positive but short ownership windows. Owners across brands stress regular cleaning, descaling, and using distilled water to extend lifespan.