I began woodworking 10 years ago.  8 years ago I bought my first 7539 Porter Cable.  Today I am still using that same router.  I purchased a milling machine that works with a router.  I went to a local tool shop and told them I needed a strong router that would need to run for long periods of time.  They told me PC was a workhorse and probably the only router that could take such abuse.  They did not lie.  I have milled 5 - 6 foot long, 6" diameter posts with this router making spiral plunge cuts.  I have run this baby for sometimes 10 minutes non-stop -- often -- and she never gives up.  I was so impressed I purchased this router for my table as well.  I use the table more than the milling machine -- raised panels doors mostly.  The one in the table lasted 5 years without ever changing the brushes.  What killed it was the freak flood during Hurricane Ike.  I live in Texas along the gulf coast.  I got 2-1/2 foot nasty water in my garage -- enough to submerge the motor.  I did not think to take the router out of the table before evacuating.  But even so, when I got home I plugged it in just to see if it would work.  I could hear the motor winning but no spin.  I gave the arbor a good tap with a hammer and guess what -- the router started spinning.  I could not believe it.  I sprayed it down (the motor, through the vents) with w-d 40 and set out to see how long it would last.  I got a whole year out of it!  But finally the corrosion won and she died for good.  So now I will purchase another one and next time I have to evacuate I will make sure to pull it out of the table and tuck it away in the attic. I have no idea if Porter Cable has continued the excellent construction of this router or if they have cheapened it, but I will find out with this new one.  I will stick with what I know, and if they fail me, only then will I look elsewhere.