I think Lexar and Sandisk have the best reputation, both also come with recovery software which is very useful if you select format by mistake (like I did once!).
Flash has a finite lifetime and will eventually die, I have also heard stories of these companies recovering data from what were seemingly completely dead cards. That's good to know if you do weddings or any professional photography / video.
A good magician to recover ALL datas:
Imre ANTAL (ex-Chief Editor of the French magazine "AMIGA CONCEPT").
And don't forget that CF are not Hard Drive: some may have a lifetime shorter (many read/write)!!!
