That's basically what I was thinking with the diesel price being around the same or a bit more expensive than gasoline I won't save as much. I may fill up less frequently and know that most diesel engines won't crap out on me at 250km if cared for properly. Ah decisions decisions...
The engine block won't split in two or throw a rod, that's basically a given.
What's not sure is how long the injectors, turbo and all the added filters and after treatments will last. Throw a new emissions above all tune into the mix, and this affects how those components all "play together"
Older diesels were efficient and reliable. Now, they also have to be clean, powerful and quiet as well as efficient. Will this also make them reliable? Can you really have it all? Doubtful. VW probably didn't think so considering they chose to compromise the cleanliness of them. Ram also cheated with the ecodiesel, trying to use every loophole to disable EGR as much as possible.
What used to be simple components (ie injectors) are increasingly complex. They will have multiple injection events per stroke to try and meet efficiency, power and noise/vibration/harshness.
I don't know about the VWs, but the Ecodiesel could have 8 injection "events" per stroke. It's all fun and games when everything is in tip/top shape but this doesn't leave much margin for errors when equipment gets older. This also causes additional wear and tear. 8 injections vs 1 compared to say an early 2000 diesel.
They're a completely new (and fickle) beast compared to old school diesels. The whole "it's a diesel, it's gonna last forever argument" isn't what it used to be IMO