Our current bases are anything but cheap. They cost us over 2x what the Wix bases did, and the finish quality is definitely better. That said, they can still have a mfr defect like anything else. They can also be cracked if the pupe thread fittings are over tightened.
As for the FB1311 bases, i used to use those and really liked them. I switched because i needed the flexibility of multiple in/out ports. Yes, the pipe thread requires sealant and can leak if not done correctly, and the port can crack if over tightened, but those are install issues, not design issues. You can easily have issues with o-ring ports, damaged o-rings, etc.