1.8 TSi Cam Chain Scare Stories

[RicksAlfas]

I fancy swapping the wife's Golf V for a Yeti, in particular the 1.8 TSI 4x4 from the first generation with the round(er) headlights.

There seems to be quite a lot of reports on this engine relating to failed cam chain tensioners resulting in stretched/skipped cam chains with inevitable results. The suggestion is that extended oil changes and/or low oil levels contribute to it.

Two questions:
1 - is it a genuine problem, or is it a case of a few issues shouted about many times?
2 - if I'm concerned, does anyone know how much a new tensioner and chain is as a preventative cure? It seems the tensioner has been revised in design so a new one shouldn't go...

TIA.

[RicksAlfas]

Is the oil usage tied to the cam tensioner, or another problem?

I can't see how a failing cam tensioner can cause excessive oil use?

[RicksAlfas]

Thanks. It's a bit off putting to say the least.
Don't want to buy a TDI, but petrol engine sounds flakey.