What brand is your favorite tape measure?
As a general contractor that uses tapes daily, I also prefer fat max.
With that said I just don't think any last like they use too !
I have many Stanley 25' tapes some 12' some 16' ,
Fat max 25' and 30' and a Milwaukee 35' .
I would say the most important thing to them lasting is keeping them clean.
When working outside in heavy rain it helps to have a rag to wipe the tape.
One thing that happenscif you don't is it binds up.
Then it has a hard time retracting properly.
More often then not when doing drywall I prefer a 16' tape.