I've been issue free since I bought the car in Jan 2011, I did replace the top ( myself with maxcichon's help ) but that was cause they sent me the get out of jail free letter.
I have made sure all the joints and cables and latches etc stay lubed, I changed the fluid in the pump a couple of years back.
I keep the fabric happy with 303.

Well, almost issue free, an couple of times it had a fit, but cured itself.