A little story about David Clarke
I have a pair of old DC H10-80s, I purchased them approx 18-19 years ago. After about 5 or 6 years of using them a couple of times a week the microphone used to droop a little as the friction device got a bit tired. Not helped by the fact that I used a headset bag and folded the microphone away each time. On the 10-80 you cannot tighten the microphone like you can on the other models.It wasn't a big problem so I just lived with it.
Anyway one year I was at Sun and Fun and was passing the DC stand and got talking to their man. I mentioned that I had some 6 yr old 10-80s and that the microphone was a little loose. He immediately asked whether I had them with me. They were at my hotel so I took them to show him the next day, thinking that he might know some cunning way to tighten them slightly. When I went back to the stand he took one look and exchanged them for a new set from their display case and gave me some spare gel ear seals and microphone foam covers. He said how sorry he was that I'd had problems with the microphone and that he hoped that the seals and microphone cover would compensate.
The new units still work perfectly today. So I have always recommended DC headsets, many others have also had great service from them.
So, get a pair of second hand DCs from ebay, you will probably keep them forever, but if you do decide to sell you'll get your money back....and if they ever get damaged ( I doubt they will fail) you can easily get all the bits to repair them as they are all listed on the DC website.
ZA