Hmmm. My trusty Hoover has survived being bounced down a flight of stairs, slung on van, driven halfway across Leeds, and bounced off the van into the house. Just needed an engineer to give it's programme knob a pull. Only reason I got an engineer was because of the Coverplan, though I did have trouble changing my address - my name was too short
I guess everyone's experiences differ
I suppose it depends on how much you use the washer and what for - all those bibs with Heinz dinners welded to them, or the plaster encrusted overalls.