I guess they are all headed downhill

I replaced a 14.4 Milwaukee NiCad with a Makita LXT and noticed that my old Milwaukee NiCads outlasted these in terms of longevity. Run time is solid but lifespan is short. Two dead after one year I'm only a homeowner. I've only done a few lengthy jobs such as putting cement board down in a 10x20 room and building a deck with these in addition to the other basic tasks of drywall and other light construction needs. Love the light weight though. Now I need new ones. Somewhat disappointing.More detail ...