Are classic parts reliable enough for regular use?

Campagnolo Record pista hubs, high (with 6 oval slots) or low flange, are great and will last for years.
Campagnolo C-Record high flange pista hubs ('sherriff stars') are pieces of shit that snap if ridden on anything other than smooth boards. Low flange ones are the dogs bollocks, however.

These things might be old but they were high-spec things designed for racing on. Tootling round the city is hardly going to kill them.

Ride that Dura-ace. It's only a hub, and only a Shimano one at that - you can always buy another if it breaks.

My frequently-used Raleigh roadster is riding on 56 year old Sturmey Archer hubs and rims and they are like new. And that weighs as much as the moon.

Bullshit

The only problem is if the front hubs are laced radially and that adds stress to the flange, saying that I've got some 1st gen Sherrif stars that are radial front and haven't been trash. But I suppose I only roll around the smooth boards of Manchester, Newport, Berlin, Ghent, Dortmond...........