Elitism, Joey? I guess you never ran across a Purdey owner, huh? Or one Ljutic owner I can think of.
Owning an 870 or several even doesn't make me an elitist. Owning the best is often the best choice...
And, the one used 500 I owned briefly did everything I wanted it to. BUT, I doubt it would have kept on doing that all these years. It rattled pretty good in near new condition inside.
Being an ex C&O security shotgun, it was dinged up on the outside but near new inside.
All in all tho, the 870 will outlast the 500 etc, under heavy use.Nothing outlasts the 870, based on actual use.
After about 4K of trap rounds in the last year, my TB is just getting broken in.
After 8-10K of use in my HD 870, mostly heavy loads,it's tight as a Swiss Watch.
After a lifetime total of rounds fired in various 870s, I cannot recall one single glitch, even with abused agency 870s.
Snob, elitist? No. Biased? Yes, 40 years of perfect performance will bias anyone....