You 'replace only' people are crazy! I thought bicycling was supposed to be better for the environment somehow... At your rates, you'll dispose of a car tire worth of rubber in less time than it takes to wear out a car tire.

And if you don't trust patches... Its because you aren't doing it right! I've got 4 patches on one of my tubes that I've been using for SEVEN YEARS. And it still holds air!

Some people carry a spare tube on the road, and if they flat, they just swap in the spare tube, and then take the time back at home to patch the tube right, which after a good testing run, turns it into another 'spare tube' for the road. That way you don't have to sit by the road for long, but you still don't waste a perfectly good tube.

peace,
sam