about seven years. Before that I had an external SS T track and brass slides. Although you refer to the Strong Track as plastic, it is a very tough HDPE. It is much less friction and I can raise my 500 sq ft main 90% before resorting to the winch. The metal on metal was far more friction.

From the look of the slide you pictured it looks like you have the standard, extruded slot in an aluminum spar. I would not use a metal slug in an aluminum track. The aluminum will wear much faster than the slug.