Many electronic today, that everyone owns, have 90 day warranties. (My $700 Dell LCD had a 90 day warranty.) I personally wouldn't mind paying to have my CZ20 fixed, if it ever breaks. With all the drops and bumps it's taken over the last 10 years and the fact that nothing has ever gone wrong I am not really worrying about it. In the mean time, I have found thousands of dollars worth of stuff with it and probably could still sell it for close to what I paid for it.
I am not trying to say a lifetime warranty isn't better than 5 years, or that is doesn't suck when something you own breaks and you have to pay to fix it. I just am mentioning that owning a great machine that works as well as the fisher, even with a 5 year warranty might be better than having another brand that doesn't find as much, or breaks more often with a lifetime warranty.
(Now I have to duck and run)...seriously, nothing against Tesoro, I just am glad I have had my fisher all these years.
Maybe try to charm them into fixing it for you. Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease. EXAMPLE: I forgot some envelopes in the car for a few days and we made a payment that posted 2 days late. This is after being with them 5+ years and paying on time and in full (they don't necessarily like the in full part) they charge $39.00 late fee. The first guy I called said it's impossible to refund it. I asked for a supervisor, she said they would refund 50% and that was tops. I asked to cancel the card and that person credited the $39.00. The point is I had to persist politely. I don't feel bad about it, everyone makes mistakes, but it is a polite persistence that might just get your machine fixed for free. Even if you don't if you like the machine and it serves you well, fix it and find a gold ring to sell. The price of gold makes it a bit easier to pay off.
bought 1996... I thought it also was for life...My new 3D should be ok!