This fragile compass talk puzzles me - my Suunto is more than twenty years old and still looks and works just fine. No bubbles at all. I generally stow it in an interior pocket in my pack next to the map when not in active use. When I am using the map and compass, it is tucked inside a shirt pocket and secured from loss by a neck lanyard. It does have a protective cover which houses the mirror - that may help its longevity. I also have a deck mounted kayak compass which is more than fifteen years old. It is doing just fine, although it hasn't been used quite as intensively in the last few years.

It would be truly bad news if compass quality has actually declined. When you really need to use a compass you more or less have to trust it completely.