Will stainless tines make the handle last any longer?

Well I don't know about that, my handle didn't break. If that was the case I would probably be forced to just replace handle. No, this was the metal sleeve the handle fits down into, the ferrule I believe. I did a little more searching on this forum after I posted and discovered the Lee Valley website, looks like they may have some pretty stout tools there. I was SO wanting some of those stainless but I did see a reference to them being more brittle, so guess I will take function over beauty, rats!!

I bought my last fork at Sears - Craftsman with lifetime warranty so if I break handel or ferrel, I get a replacement. So far for 2 years I have not broken it. Much better than what Home depot sells.

There are MANY different types and qualities of stainless steels, and selection depends on application details.
300 series are commonly used and offer a balanced set of properties. 304 is OK for formed or cast parts but not for welded assemblies or parts because it will develop corrosion cracking in the heat-affected zones of the welds. For good/better/best welded parts one switches to 304L, 316, and then 343. There are also 400 series, 1800 series, and etc. etc. Discuss your concerns with the manufacturer(s) of the pieces you are considering.
Generally, price will escalate with the overall quality of the stainless steel used.

For most tools like shovels & forks, I think regular steel is fine.
Although someone gave me a S.S. fork w/ a plastic covered handle that I leave by the compost pile & it shows very little weathering other than faded color after 3 or 4 years outside.
I also received a small S.S. shovel w/ handle whose blade doesn't seem as heavy as a similar steel & wood shovel.
When prying out dirt the S.S. blade has bent, but snaps back in place. Eventually I'm sure it will crack. I usually grab the old shovel for real digging.

I've had the Lee Valley SS spading fork for two years, light work only. They have a line of really heavy duty garden tools for those of a gorilla physique. Haven't tried them.
My SS spading fork is a bit heavier than a steel and wood fork would be. Is that a disadvantage or an advantage? Not sure.
Norm

I just destroyed my lee valley fork the other day. While bending the tines back the steel handle cracked. The tines seem to bend much easier than the carbon steel fork I have. I'm going to return it and by the english quality fork they have.

I too have the Sears Craftsman. I replaced one after 2 years no questions asked. I will probably have the current one replaced at the end of this year with a bent tine. This one went about 5 years.

If you have really tough areas you want to break through or loosen up, Lee Valley makes a heavy duty fork that may be useful to you. However it is pricey at $109. It's not made for lifting but for aeration and tilling.

I have the wood-handled Lee Valley SS fork and spade, and I haven't had any problems with them over the past three years. To be fair, LV is very forthcoming about the SS tools' limitations, and they do recommend upgrading to the steel-handled, English-style tools for heavier-duty jobs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lee Valley's stainless-steel tools