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Addressing the issue of solid state and burnout:
Solid state drives consist of flash memory -- essentially, an SSD is a USB thumb drive in a 2.5" or 3.5" format. SSD's are capable of a fixed number of operations, that much is true. However, a modern drive with good design and wear leveling will typically outlast a standard platter drive. The issue is mechanics -- a magnetic platter hypothetically is only capable of a fixed number of writes as well, but mechanical failure is far more likely. The SSD, lacking any moving parts, is not prone to this problem, so the only thing you really have to worry about in terms of reliability is that write limit.
It's hard to say for sure how long SSD's will last on average, since they're still quite new to the market. For typical home use, though, data points to them at least theoretically lasting decades before wearing out.
In terms of performance, though, the gains aren't as great as you'd think. Flash memory is not DRAM, and will not perform to that level. It can outperform a platter drive, and is particularly good at random read operations due to the fact that it nearly eliminates seek times. Write times are often a bit underwhelming, though.
It'll be faster, but not blazing fast. It will be (theoretically at least) far more reliable than a platter drive. But you'll also pay for that.
So long as you're following typical data security practices (ie, keeping important data in more than one location) there's no reason to fear SSD's.
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I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept
I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept
I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head
I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said
- Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame
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