Well, my point is that even if they do blow the head gasket - its a cheap and easy fix.
They just got tarred with this unreliable image, mine blew its head gasket when I first got it - £300 later and everythings hunky dorey, not had a problem since.
When I took my MG for its mot the other day (which it passed) there were 2 peugeots in there with blown gaskets and Ive also owned 2 golfs and a polo that have blown head gaskets, its not just a K series thing.