Is New Better?

New vans we got in 2009. Run pretty good but new thing do have there problems.
A Ford Vans E-450 with a 6 liter diesel.
One of the thing that I would like to bring out about this motor, is the trouble with inspecting and changing the fan belts.
The radiator has to be remove to inspect belts and the many pullies.
You can not see, but the very top pullies and a very small part of the belt.
I think there are 15 pullies, you can see 12 of them here..
So about ever 50,000 miles, you just going in and change every thing, and hope it last another 50k.
This job takes about 6 hours, and if the shop rates is $85 per hour plus parts, this could be costly.

In the old day you could always inspect, and replace belts pretty quick, like one hour.