In the end, you're probably still saving money. I got six years out of my iMac before my toddler knocked it off the desk and broke the screen. I could probably fix it if I really wanted to but it is so old I can't upload the latest version of iOS so I'm holding off for a Mac Mini. It was still running strong and virus-free though. MacBooks are the same way. You'll probably have replaced a Windows laptop twice before you need to replace your MacBook.
My MacBook Pro 15 inch was manufactured the 18th week of 2008 (May). Still running strong. Had a very small dim spot on the LCD panel that was replaced under warranty the week before the extended warranty expired. We’ve got a house full of Apple products and they all just work and work and work. Plus everything just works seamlessly as a system...the computers, the tablets, the Apple TV, the Time Machine, the iTunes store, the iPhones, the iPods, etc. If you like your stuff to just plain work the way it should and not crap out, you can’t go wrong with their products.