We just traded a 2013 ERA. Not all, but some of the reasons we traded are because of what you mentioned. Engine maint is pricy oil changes sometimes combine with other schedule maint hit $400+ easy. The good news is 10k miles in between. Only MB and some freight liner can do most of it. Oil is very special stuff only use exact MB spec, 7-10 a qt and it takes 14 quarts. Fuel filter $100+ Hope you never need a dpf filter. 3k. We only had one dreaded "check engine light" and MB fixed no charge as it was emission related. After 100,000 miles emission stuff is on you. Because of the scarcity of Sprinter dealers in many places we used Progressive insurance because of their liberal towing policy of towing you to nearest facility that can fix you, most insurance does not do that. Important because many MB and Freightliner dealers DO NOT work on Sprinters. A service writer at a Freightliner shop doing an alignment for us told me he loved the engine and chassis but would never buy one because of the emission controls being so problematic.
In the end the fear of needing expensive mx in a remote area and the potential costs scared us along with several coach specific issues unrelated to MB made us decide to get another gasser.
We DID love the fuel economy, performance, and quiet running diesel.
George 20 yr USAF & Lesley