There is a LOT of good information in this thread. There are also a few "misnomers/mistakes". I'll leave it for those who know, to see the difference.
S&G locksets pretty much 'start off' as better than most/all 'entry level' stuff.
There ARE better locksets out there, if one knows what to look for and where.
TRUE, quality mechanical locksets are always more reliable than ANY electronical device that I'm aware of.
No, I don't know everything about everything yet, gimme another week.
Mild amount of maintenance is required, but the whole concept is more 'prudence' than 'involved'.
What has been said about (+ or -) numbers when dialing is a HUGE tell-tale.
Having a/the local locksmith come out for the initial install can make all the difference in your happiness.
--remember, the true local locksmith who also services the local banks IS someone that can be trusted as they are Bonded. Their reputation IS their security. Use the one that the banks use. (may not be so easy to figure out, but there ARE ways to do such)
Layers of protection ARE what makes the security 'deeper'. ie:
-thickness of steel
-thickness of glass
-thickness of copper
-thickness of aluminum
-thickness of ball-bearings
-thickness of concrete
-or any combination of the above.
The make-up of a quality lockset is HUGELY important in the longevity of its use. Especially the 'older ones' they are pretty-much designed to be 'idiot proof' and last a lifetime.
But the biggest point to the security of your wares, is simply by not advertising (locally OR on the innerwebz) that you HAVE something to protect. And, on top of that,,,, one does not advertise that "I protect my stuff with (this)" simply because you don't want to invite interest NOR throw-down-the-challenge.
If you don't show people that you have a safe, then they don't have it in their mind that 'hey, he's got something there that needs protecting'. At the same time, if you don't let people see that you have a vault, then they're not thinking "I wonder what's in there that needs so much protection...."
When people come to visit me, and we start talking about certain topics, I'll quite often bring something out (pre-staged) from a different room on a different floor into the LIVING ROOM where we are talking, and then we can go 'hands-on' with that/those said devices. As far as they're concerned, the stuff was stored "upstairs in 'that' room" as opposed to (wherever else it might actually reside, regularly)
Hide in plain sight, as well as "the power of suggestion" mixed with "sleight of hand" is where your true security comes from.