I've had no issues at all with Shimano's Octalink or external cup BBs. I just retired an Octalink installed in January 2007 on my three-seasons commuter. Still just fine, I simply wanted a new crankset on that bike.

I've also had good experience with SRAM's GXP external cup BB. Came stock on my 2006 Portland, which is my four-seasons all-conditions commuter. Last summer I had it replaced because I thought it had begun ticking. Turns out, it wasn't the BB at all, but the crank. The spider is pressed on to the crankshaft, and it wasn't quite so pressed-on any more.