The people who claim "it's only a matter of time" tend to be those that are running boost pressures higher than stock. It's not really as bad as people make it out to be, but it is by far the weakest link in the intercooler plumbing system. That being said, I replaced mine when I started running a tune for peace of mind.
All of the aftermarket charge pipes are built from similar materials (usually aluminum) and have the same overall shape and diameter, so in all honesty you can't go wrong. I went with the
Evolution Racewerks charge pipe because it's the only one that properly mounts onto the stock bracket. Other charge pipes just sort of float there. I also liked the black look, as I think chrome "bling" is tacky.
If running meth is something that may be in your future, make sure you get one with a meth bung (sometimes this is an option).