The rubber spine has proven to be very durable. The ring assembly however is far less substantial and results in premature failure of the binder. Another minor annoyance is that the front view window tends to tear easily.
I use these on a daily basis. Probably open up the rings 20 times a day. Although they are a little more expensive they are completely worth it! They last me a year with much use!
I spend the extra for these binders they are so durable that my kids can use them years in a row without needing to be replaced. I feel better knowing we are not sending 4-6 broken binders a year to the land fill.