This is my experience as well.

Also, your local bike shop will gladly use their tool to check your chain for you for free if you're not comfortable with the ruler method and don't want to buy your own tool. That's what I did on my recent 4500 mile tour. I got it checked whenever I stopped at a shop to chat or find local info, at least every week or so. I started with a high-quality chain and had to replace it once near the end of the trip.

I usually buy stuff on sale, so I get varying quality. The more expensive stuff tends to last longer.

To the question of chain rings wearing out, I finally wore one out on that last trip on a bike that has many tens of thousands of miles on it. It's a wide steel gear (old seven speed) and lasted forever. The newer 10-speed aluminum rings won't last as long.