@davidechols, I hope we’re both around to see twenty years. LOL
Frankly, there are a ton of UT V5 machines around the world and I’ve never heard of an encoder failure yet. UT is using the same encoder on the VL and even sell one as an after-market mod for the older V2 machines.
I have a Polymetric Xrystal-tec 99 with a digital encoder/display that gets a lot of use, and it hasn’t even hinted of a failure.