MIDI Keyboards are disposable?

[perplx]

See, I have an Edirol PCR-30. It's worked well for the first year, but over the second year, some keys have stopped responding. I found out this is typical of these keyboards, and also of their follow-up, the PCR-M30. And of some other cheap keyboards from other manufacturers.

I figured I could view these as a disposable, and get the PCR-M30 discounted at 150$ Canadian. Thing is, nowadays, I move the keyboard around a lot more then when I started. It's probably going to break down faster now. I'd like to try the new PCR-300 - looks nice with them 9 sliders and crossfader - but i don't know if they improved their device enough to be worth it.

So does anybody have any advice on a cheap-ish yet solid MIDI keyboard? Something with 2-3 octaves, maybe 4, ideally USB-powered, not necessarily with controls - I mostly want something that won't die because I put it in a gig bag twice. I heard the Novation Remote SLs are solid, but kind of expensive too. At that price, should I just get a XioSynth or Alesis Micron? I heard synths are built better than controllers - is that true?

[afreshcupofjoe]

Stage Pianos make nice durable midi controllers for gigging, but they are as heavy as all hell.