My other steel legged Manfrotto has coped well with all the abuse i've put it through. The only broken bits have been the first stage leg clamps, i blame that on the hardness of the floor in Site 3!.
I've had one of these for about a year and a half, good solid tripod and pretty light. Only thing I've had a problem with is the wheel on top of one of the legs started grinding like it was full of dirt so I took it apart to clean it and discovered the metal had cracked and it has since dropped out meaning the leg swings opens to full width now.