If you are basing your experience on VCR cleaning might I suggest coming into the 2000’s :-)
My experience was with a $2500 TV that they replaced in full. Zero questions asked. Times have changed a bit :-)
I can hold a grudge. It took me a couple decades to consider buying Toshiba equipment because they had sold some advanced milling equipment to the Soviet Union. I finally relented when I realized the Soviet Union was long gone.
More seriously, I've heard that the premium to payout ratio for most stores' extended service contract is around 8-to-1. They get $8 of money in for every $1 they pay out. At that price, I'll self insure unless I expect I will be using the device at way above normal usage and incur excess wear.