brassplyer wrote in news:cde6b25b-0278-468d-bdac-
:

I needed to replace an outside spigot, was hoping for find one that
used a compression fitting, the guy at Home Depot was trying to sell
me on these Shark Bite pipe fittings.

Seeing that the crucial interface pieces appeared to be some kind of
PVC and an O-ring I was leery, wondering what the long term
dependability of it would be compared to time-tested compression
fittings or soldered joints. "Quick and easy" doesn't inspire trust.
Okay, it works for now, but how's it going to hold up 5, 10, 15 years
from now? You obviously don't want it degrading and springing a leak
inside a wall, perhaps undetected for an extended period while it
causes water damage.

Any experiences or opinions?

I wouldn't want one in my wall, difficult to access location, location
where failure could cause a lot of damage, etc.

Plumbers love the stuff and they swear by it? Like they did with
polybutylene pipes and fittings?

Sweating works. Proven for decades. Assume what you have now is Cu.

Sweat coupling/elbow .50-1.00
Sharkbite fittings http://www.plumbingsupply.com/shark-bite-fittings.html

Guess I'm just old and inflexible. I remember my grandfather telling us
if you put that water paint (latex) on something outside it will wash off
when it rains.

Here's some generally positive experiences.
http://www.contractortalk.com/f9/sha...ittings-15746/