Gas water heaters are less expensive to run than electric models and have a faster hot water recovery rate, which is attractive to large families. In the United States, gas powered water heaters are used in 60 percent of residences, making them the heater of choice as of 2015.
Some lifetime warranties cover the product for as long as you own it, which means the warranty is disclaimed (or voided) the moment it is resold or given away. Look for the word limited in front of the words lifetime warranty, which will be accompanied by language (usually in fine print) explaining its terms.
The maturity stage is usually the longest of the four life cycle stages, and it is not uncommon for a product to be in the mature stage for several decades. A savvy company will seek to lower unit costs as much as possible at the maturity stage so that profits can be maximized.