looking at a Mini 3 cyl turbo - modern turbos?
 

How have manufacturers dealt with the issues of turbo oil starvation.

I would worry about the turbo getting damaged with cold weather short travel drives.

Seems like there is a love affair with turbos these days. Do other folks worry about long term reliability?

Mine:

2003 Ford F250 Power Stroke Diesel 165K

2008 Subaru WRX 135K miles

The turbo is not a source of worry

In the élan community, I don't think anyone had had a turbo failure and there are quite a few with over 200k on the clock

Water cooling the bearing housing was probably the biggest improvement re durability.
Some will even have a small electric pump to continue circulation when parked until the turbo cooled . Previous design failures were often a result of oil and bearing being overheated when the blower was cooling off .

USE FAKE OIL it coke's far less

real dead dino oil coke's [turns to hard carbon]

btw rebuild on a quality turbo is bearings and seals not a real high cost $100
if caught before it self destructs