I used to play VF .. definitely money wasted. I went through VFs like nobody's business, and I'm not that hard of a player. To put it in perspective.. my Zildjian Barker Signature sticks (Yeah yeah..) lasted longer than any pair of my VFs, and I've mentioned this before but the first time I played on my kit with my VF Steve Gadd sigs, half of the tip came off.
I've had Vater Manhattan 7As for three months, and I practice at least three times a week, averaging about 6-9 hours of practice a week. I play rock and funk, and sometimes jazz.. but until recently I haven't seen much of any wear on them. I think the one time they got beaten up was when I let my friend try them out. I also have a pair of Vater Shedders that are quickly becoming my new favorites. Yes, they're short and stubby, but they can take much more of a beating than the Manhattans, and I like the challenge of playing with sticks that I'm not really used to. Plus, they give me a sound that DEFINITELY cuts through the mix.
Vater, all the way.