Hard drives are the weak point in any device and their quality has declined quite a bit over the years. I always recommend the Applecare for laptops or iPods and especially for klutzes like me.

Once you’re out of warranty, Apple’s service is still good, but the cost is usually so high that buying a replacement device starts to look attractive. Don’t forget that Apple offers a military discount online or in-store.

Even by today’s standards, you’ve had some bad luck with hard drives. I’m tempted to ask if you’ve noticed any extremely strong magnetic fields in your house; symptoms might include your keychain flying across the room or a set of steak knives stuck to the ceiling.