It may actually prove to be the opposite case as the capacitors in these old scopes self destruct and eat their own circuit boards and surrounding components.

It may actually prove to be the opposite case as the capacitors in these old scopes self destruct and eat their own circuit boards and surrounding components. I have a Rigol and an Agilent over 10 years old now and going strong. Honestly though, my Agilent overheated once and destroyed its own SMPS. This was terrifying given the price of the scope (and at the moment, just knowing -- it was dead and smelled like an electronics fire). I now have a circulating fan on my scope shelf moving air behind and across all my bench equipment. I replaced that Agilent SMPS for $150? and then got a 2 year service plan for another couple hundred dollars. The latest Rigol prices are pretty expendable, $299!! but I suspect they will be running for quite a few years.