On a day to day basis, I much prefer a one handle faucet. Before I changed my countertops I noticed my sister's sink had a lot of water around the faucet - and running down the island countertop (her sink is in her island.) She now keeps a small towel there to catch the water, but this water comes from her wet hands turning the water on an off. She actually has a single handle, but I figured it would be twice as bad with two. I have my handle positioned over the sink so drips fall into the sink.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~58831076

This doesn't address your parts issue, but my faucet was very heavy and my plumber thought it was a good faucet.

Several years ago my kitchen faucet died, and I bought a home center Delta to get me by for a while. The faucet looked sad after a year - the faux chrome peeling off. Surprisingly, the faucet, even with the plastic parts, lasted many years till I could change out my counters. It wasn't great, but it worked, did not drip or leak. I am not recommending plastic parts by any means, but a good name brand bought at a plumb supply shop or ordered through a reputable online company should last many years. (Some name brands like Delta also make "home center price faucets" and these are mostly plastic and not recommended.)

Generally, there is a standard width from faucet to handle which makes replacing faucets easier - but I agree, a single handle is a safe way to go.

I do really like my bathroom delta faucets - most over 15 years old. However, my Delta replacement cartridges, which are easy to change out, have not lasted as long as the original cartridges.

Just because faucets have some internal parts that are nylon or some form of plastic is not necessarily a bad thing. Since of those parts last longer than their metal counterparts and don't corrode. In addition, any decent quality faucet valves will have ceramic cartridges. I draw the line at buying a faucet so cheap that the housing is chrome-plated, cast plastic. (Some pullout spray heads are played plastic, but I haven't had a problem with these, and they are easy to replace in any case.) And you don't have to spend a fortune. I replaced a 15 year old Moen with a sleek Hansgrohe several years ago because I wanted a higher arc faucet: the new one cost less than $200 and has performed flawlessly.

My advice: Buy a one-handle, cast metal housing, chrome-plated faucet from a name brand manufacturer with a lifetime warranty. Keep your receipt in case you ever need to have it replaced, and quit worrying. Besides, if it ever fails before you move on to your next house, your taste in faucet styles may have changed.

I agree going with a well-known manufacturer, but I've had a Delta one-handled faucet I can't wait to tear out (doing so in a week for demo). I've replaced the insides (free with warranty) twice, which has never stopped the dripping - my Mom had the same model in white and it also had the same problem, and continued after repair. Back to 2-handled for me... but I think it really doesn't matter. If I wanted another 1-handle, I'd get it.

I swear by Delta as they do not require a "cartridge puller". I have accepted the reality that "all things die", some sooner than others.

When I bought my Delta faucet for my kitchen, I passed on the imported Delta faucets from the big box stores and bought an American made Delta faucet from an Ace Hardware affiliated lumber yard. Surprisingly, there was little difference in price.

jhmarie, my husband and I discussed the wet faucet topic you brought up at length last night. He must cup his hands and carry large volumes of water everywhere, because even with a top-mount, I feel like I'm always chasing puddles around my sink.

kudzu9, good point about saving the receipt and cast metal.

Delta is what my plumber says is the easiest to find parts, but I agree that the quality seems to have a range of experiences.