Since you asked,
"If anyone has experience with different mainsail materials that provide extended life, please let me know".
I'd be happy to tell you about my, now 5+ year old, Kevlar with Carbon tape main that keeps on winning but you'd rather hear about my 26 year old Dacron main that isn't worth racing after a year or two but is still usable. How about canvass, I hear that's pretty durable.