This has been a worthwhile discussion.  I've purchased parts from catalogs well before online vendors existed, and I've used all of the Vanagon vendors at one time or another, and many, many, others (including Rock Auto).  Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've never had a problem that wasn't resolved quickly to my satisfaction in the last 45 years.  But then I'm a reasonable person and somewhat knowledgeable.  

I think sometimes folks get involved with Vanagons who aren't fully prepared for the ongoing costs and constant challenges of owning an old vehicle and trying to depend on it (get the best towing package you can find!).  For many years my 1965 MGB and my '84 Westy were daily drivers for my wife and I.  The MGB was retired from that duty in 2003 and the Vanagon was sold in 2006. Now I'm slowly prepping an '85 Westy to be a reliable escape vehicle that won't be a DD, and spending more on it than I ever did on the '84 in 20 years and 200,000 miles of full time driving. 

Couldn't do it without this community and our vendors.

Stuart