Always scan the shelf tags yourself, those yellow clearance stickers beat the app price every single time.

Factory backed is a totally different animal from the third party stuff you see on TV. The dealer plans are run by the car maker and the shops get paid without a fight, so the repair gets done right. Third party companies will find any excuse to deny you, like saying you missed an oil change by 200 miles or that the broken part was caused by a part they don't cover. I have seen people wait weeks for an inspector to show up while their car sits on the lift. Your brother got lucky because he had the real thing, not because the whole game is fair. Stick with factory or put the money in a savings account.

Ha, if I fixed everything before it broke I'd never actually get to drive the thing anywhere! You're right that old parts can outlast the truck, and half the time I create a new rattle just by touching something that was working fine. My wallet hurts enough from the parts that actually let go on the trail, so I'll let the mounts ride until they earn their replacement.