can the topic be salvaged?
I'll try. I read and read about the reliability concerns of Rovers before ultimately deciding to buy one. It's only been a week so it's a small sample size but as with many other posters, I almost immediately fell in love.
As mentioned, Toyotas may take you north of 200k with ease, but a well maintained Rover is no slouch and it just feels right (at least to me). Tacomas may be more reliable and easier to source parts for, but I just found their interiors to be character-less and, well, boring.
It's a personal decision and if you don't want to put in the sweat equity, then it may not be for you. For me that is part of the fun. Maybe 5 years from now I'll regret my decision in the middle of some desert, but for now I'm on board and couldn't be happier with the feel of driving my '04.
Good luck.