I purchased a Samsonite hard side with thoughts of using as a combination carryon/foot rest - at the last minute decided to check it. When I retrieved it from baggage claim two large holes were poked through the hard casing and the rest of the shell was cracked and in shambles - needless to say I have a claim in to the airline but I'm leery about purchasing another hard side since this one didn't survive even one flight.
My soft side is 8 years old and although a little scuffed still in great shape and it has at least 500,000 miles on it. I'm sure this was just a case of bad luck...