I don't see worrying about the equipment breaking as a reasonable worry.  The only message that should cause worry is the panic-button message.

Those who worry about us know that one of the big reasons we go is to get off the grid & be incommunicado.  If someone is so worrisome that missing these check-in calls will cause them to lose sleep they deserve a partner who doesn't engage in wilderness tripping, and we deserve someone able to give us this little freedom for a couple weeks each year.

Then there's the failure rate of these devices.  Exceedingling low.

Waterproof your gear.  That's so basic that those who don't know this subject themselves to gene pool maintenance.