I warranty replaced a Red shifter within the first month of using it. The cable head is held in a plastic "cup" on what appears to be an entirely plastic ratchet wheel, and the cable simply tore through on a shift and came out.

However, the replacement has worked flawlessly 3.5 years and lots of miles later.

So, my opinion is simultaneously "utter crap" and "really great". I do, however, expect a similar failure someday. Plastic can only hold up to a metal cable for so long. Don't know what I'll do when it fails...the new Shimano stuff is not exactly to my liking. Guess I'll become a permanent e-bay bike part archaeologist.