I have an Aware 5+ and the battery lasts about 2.5 hrs. I always have it plugged into the fag lighter anyway but I did do a trip without it being plugged in just to see how much battery life there is. I haven't had any major issues with it and I've dropped it onto a concrete pan from the side window of a 172. The Aware team give you good backup should you need it. Sometimes their monthly downloads are a bit wonky.
Having said all that........if I was in the market for a new GPS and I had the extra £200 over the 5+ I would go for the Skydemon, not so much for the actual unit but their flight planning software is far superior. IMO. Plus our club has Skydemon set up for flight planning on a wall mounted flat screen telly and has two of the units, so it's a 'Skydemon club'.
And having said all of that.....as long as you get some kind of airspace awareness from whatever unit you choose then it's done it's job.