I’ve actually seen a few older PEX installs behind walls that looked just fine—still flexible, no cracking or weirdness. I get the worry about UV, but honestly, unless you’re running lines in direct sunlight, it’s not usually a problem. Copper’s definitely got that “stood the test of time” vibe, but I’ve also seen it fail way sooner than expected. Sometimes I wonder if every material just has its trade-offs... nothing’s truly forever, right?
I hear you on the copper vs. PEX thing—honestly, I spent way too long trying to pick between them for my own reno. Ended up going with PEX just because it was way easier for a newbie to work with (and cheaper, let’s be real). I did stress about the “how long will this last?” question, but after seeing some 15-year-old PEX in my neighbor’s place looking totally fine, I figured it was good enough for me. Nothing’s bulletproof, but if it’s not getting blasted by sunlight or chewed by critters, seems like it’ll outlast my patience for home projects...