Mi 8MTV/17/171 is safe, if you run it safe with experienced pilots and flight engineers.
It is true that for 100 h check, you need week and 6-8 engineers,
but on the other hand, that helicopter is capable to sustain heavy
malpractice on flight and maintenance.
Usually that is the case in XXXstan.
New units can fly up to 4500 h on airframe before MOH (MGB and TV3 still 1500h)
which also improves price/performance ratio....