Not so much the big spender nowadays, but I lost THREE rear wheels in about 3 weeks ... all different failures:

Easton 90 SLX: hub failure ... the pawls stripped right through the hub)
Mavic Ksyrium Elite SL: need a new urethane washer and insert ... haven't fixed that one yet
Forte Titan (the cheap commuting wheels): Broken spoke. I suppose I could replace it, but the other spokes are probably on the way out too

I bought another Titan to replace the one on the commuting bike, and these (Reynolds Solitude) to replace the Easton's. I'll probably try to fix the Ksyriums.

1560 grams and about $240 a pair.