I would suggest it is something with the installation or possibly even a charging problem. If the folks I knew failed these things at the rate you claim, they would be down there throwing rocks through the parts store windows. Your neighbor replaces an HEI every 2 months? I call bullshit.
I have no dog in the GM fight. I use these because they are easy to get, not very expensive, and they work. Anybody who thinks a modern parts store Chinese Mopar module is good quality is fooling themselves.
And I'm not against Mopar. I converted my 340 swapped 70 RR to Mopar breakerless sometime around 1973. And there was no internet. I once had a 62 Landcruiser with a Mopar smallblock. It used variously Mopar ECU and MSD direct replacement CDI. And I've had others before and since.
If these fail as bad as you say, there would have to be a special line at the parts stores just for guys buying new modules.
