I used to think these were the best athletic shoes available.  I typically got 12-14 months of heavy exercise use out of the MX608 before needing a new pair.  I bought my most recent pair of MX608V2 shoes in August 2011.  I immediately noticed that they felt much flimsier and more "plasticky" than the previous pair, and they offered less sole support, making me feel like there is very little cushion between the bottom of my foot and the floor.  Within three months holes started forming in the interior lining, especially in the heel cup.  Even the shoes that I beat on for more than a year in the past never did this.

I'm now looking for a replacement shoe from another manufacturer.  It's too bad New Balance decided to cheap out - I would have been willing to pay more for them to maintain previous quality levels.