It's really not that surprising that people don't have reliable storage systems. But let's face it, as technicians there really is a lot of junk being sold to the masses that isn't worth putting in a bag to take home. One thing I like to recommend is that when considering a storage system, take the time to look at more than just "who made it". Namebrands are just that, the name of a brand. It is better to really research what is reliable to other people, and do not just get your information from 1 or 2 sites. Instead analyze a compendium of information and reviews.
When I was buying my first cdwriter I researched it a lot, and read fantastic reviews, and purchased a highly recommended unit reviewed favorably by a major computer hardware magazine. It was junk. I would also caution you, such that when you look at a unit, consider getting the manual, or a copy of it from the web as a pdf. Learn about the interior system and chipset, and research those. Also research what the best file storage system is for your needs? ext3? ext4? zfs? Maybe read about the differences of each one on wikipedia.
For Home storage or small business settings I recommend naslite by server elements. For larger organizations obviously servers or specially built nas systems.
