Huh? A yearly flush?

I have an 05 Kona Caldera I bought in Sept 04 (the first week they came out). It came stock with Hayes HFX-9 hydros. I put 3850 miles in all conditions year round on them. Once, while riding a downed tree, I had to bail, jumped off, and it pulled my front brake plunger, which was attached to the lever, out. I was able to force it back in, but this messed up the little plunger (I think it's actually a piston). That was probably in 05 or 06. That front brake lasted until Nov 09 when the plunger finally stuck inside the master cylinder. Mind you, it was my fault that this happened to begin with, and I knew since the day it happened it was on borrowed time. Now, I've got about 4200 miles on the Caldera with the original back brake and a new front.

I replaced the front pads on the original brake once. That is the only maintenance I ever did. I never, not once, bled or flushed the brakes - in 5 1/2 years. And, the new brake came pre-bled so I didn't even have to mess with it when I installed it.

I have read on other forums that other hydro-brakes have more problems (non-Hayes). For example, one person I read said every time his bike was turned upside down, air would get into the line and he'd have to bleed them. I think he had Avid Juicy somethings.

Re squealing: I have never had a squealing issue. Neither on my Caldera, nor my Trance X2 which has Hayes hydros as well.