It depends. I've found Shimano hubs, regardless of their grouppo, are usually superior to other hubs. High-priced low weight hubs catering to boutique riders often have aluminum freehub bodies--bad idea. And often more expensive rims will wear down faster than rims that are much cheaper. If you keep the weight reasonably high and get something with Shimano hubs, chances are you will be fine from a reliability standpoint.

EDIT: More expensive wheels often require more precise tensioning as well because they have fewer spokes. If you have 32 or 36 spokes, correct tensioning is much much less of a concern than if you have 24 spokes or less. Cheaper wheels with more spokes are often more durable than expensive ones.