The Formula/R500s that came with my bike were out of true soon after purchase, but they've taken a lot of rough city riding since, with minimal further work needed. I don't think you'll need to swap them out- my suggestion is that you invest in a truing stand and make wheel maintenance a very regular thing. If/when you finally bend up a wheel, THAT should be the time to consider new hoops.

$17 rims sound shady. If someone out there actually makes kickass rims that sell for $17 at a brick-and-mortar shop, they'll be wealthy people soon.

Also, though the rims are $17, the shop's time to build a wheel could be $40, and you might need another $30 for spokes, per wheel.