Poor customer support if they don't consider worn buttons a warranty issue. It falls into the category of "Defect in parts or workmanship". The design is flawed. I have not had my BCD436HP very long at all. Just since July this year. The paint on the buttons should last at least a few years.
The buttons on my BCD396XT have never worn off, and it is 8 years old. Same fingers pressing buttons on both scanners. One has lasted 8 years without worn buttons, the other lasted not quite 4 months before the S in System is almost gone.
I had an Alinco HT years ago that had the same issue, and I replaced the keypad on it and sold it. After that, I went to Yaesu and found I preferred Yaesu over Alinco, and stuck with Yaesu for the last 20 years.
Maybe Whistler scanners have better keypads. I know all the GRE scanners I have, have never had worn buttons.
Seriously, how much could it cost Uniden to sell us a keypad and keep a loyal customer from even considering another brand. In the past, I have always appreciated Uniden for allowing me to buy parts I needed to keep my scanners working and looking good.
I have re-cased that old BCD396XT, replaced a broken selector knob, a worn SMA connector, a noisy speaker and was able to order all the parts from Uniden, and at very reasonable prices. But I never once had to replace the keypad on that BCD396XT and it still looks like new. Not a single worn button, the same fingers have been pressing buttons on it, as have been on the BCD436HP.
It's not my fingers, it is the keypad design that is causing the wear. The condition of my BCD396XT keypad, and those on my Yaesu radios that are also old, proves it is not oily fingers that are at fault.
It would be nice if someone could make a better aftermarket keypad for the BCD436HP, I would pay $50 for one if it had a warranty against wear. I like the radio, but the keypad sucks!