it never even occurred to me to remove the battery from my laptop. All consultants that do what I do use laptops for our jobs and I've never heard of anyone suggesting or doing that.

My batteries have always outlived my need for each laptop I've ever had. I get a new laptop every 3-4 years, occasionally sooner.

If you buy an extended warranty or service plan with your laptop, then battery replacement may be covered. In fact, if it IS covered, then that probably makes the price of the extended warranty well worth it. Replacement batteries usually run about $75-100