I run in ASICS, have since I started running. My first pair took me through a year of agility in the mud and nasty then through my first 5K, up to when I started doing about 15 miles a week and it was too much for my old shoes who had already been destroyed doing all kinds of nasty agility. I got a new pair and they lasted me through my first half marathon, though with shin splints. When I started running again and got shin splints again, I went and got a different kind. No shin splints and a half marathon later. They still probably have a few hundred miles left on them, they're in really good shape still even though I started wearing them to the gym and abusing them there too.
Oh, and the pair that gave me shin splints, I still wear them for agility because they work fine for that purpose. They are starting to get worn out though so I'll have to replace them soon.
I just got a pair of Brooks shoes for my birthday that are more minimal. ASICS has a minimal-ish shoe and I really wanted to love them, but the Brooks just felt more comfortable. I haven't started running in them yet, just abused them in the gym, so I dunno how that will work out. If I can't run in them without having pain, it's back to ASICS for me. I'll get a new pair of what I have now and retire out my current pair to my new agility shoes. ;P
I did have a pair of ASICS that tore my foot to shreds and I returned them. Later on when I was getting another pair the guy at the store told me that particular pair I had that went horribly wrong has a very rough edge on the insole and he always recommends people have them grind their insole down and it won't rub the foot and rip blisters and worse apart. BUT I can't recall what model that was. It was a running shoe though, not a cross trainer, so it's probably not those.
FYI my first ASICS were Nimbus 10, then I went to Nimbus 12, now I'm in a Kayano 17. It MIGHT have been the Cumulus that ripped up my foot but I really can't remember.