CrossRoads:
I only ever had Weller solder iron station, did not have any flaking/rotting problem.
The tips on X-Tronic 4000 that I am using now
http://www.ebay.com/itm/X-TRONIC-4000-HOT-AIR-REWORK-SOLDERING-IRON-STATION-/120571221985?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c129ad7e1
seem to be good also.
radio shack tips are soft metal with a cosmetic chrome coating, wet sponge + stupid hot tip, and they will carve out a divot in a couple months, I switched over to a real copper "chore boy" brand scowering pad and used the same tip for a year and a half before I got my XY-Tronic, and by then I had firmly set my mind to screw the yellow sponge. (course I use a brass sponge on my nice tip, but I solder almost every single day and I am still using the same tip the iron came with, 4 years later and it looks brand new)