What an odd way of putting it!
...Lest you think that the rover must have been shoddily built to last this long...
Normally, we think that something must have been shoddily built if it falls apart in a SHORT time. That drill lasted 5 years in a heavy sand climate, which is a lot better than the lifetime of the tools I usually buy. Things that last a LONG time are normally praised for solid, reliable craftsmanship*...
* Under new Activist guidelines, the word 'craftspersonship' should be substtuted here...