I've ordered, and am about to receive in the mail, a Mini Lama V4/2006.
I'm not interested in graduating to better helicopters. I don't care for 3D, I don't have the necessary disposable income, and I just don't have the interest for serious modeling.
Plus I've read a lot here, and frankly, all the hassle of operating a standard, non-counter-rotating helicopter hardly seems worth the trouble to me. I am perfectly aware this makes me more of a toy flyer than a model flyer, and I don't have a problem with it.

Anyway, the mini lama is extremely likely to remain my only real heli for quite a while. As such, it'll get many hours of flying time. I've read a bit, and I understand the tiny brushed motors it uses are good for 20, maybe 30 hours before their brushes crap out, at which point the motors have to be replaced.
I've also read that brushless motors, when properly cooled, have a life many many times longer than brushed motors.
So I was wondering: would it be possible, when the mini lama's motor(s) crap out, to replace them with equivalent brushless motors and solve the issue once and for all?

At equivalent power/speed, do brushless motors have a significantly different power draw? Would the existing electronics be good to drive them?

As a side question: is it possible to open up brushed motors and replace their brushes?

Yes, a brushless motor will last longer and give more power for the same ammount of amperage draw. No, it can't be used with your current electronics (you'll need to replace everything).

Yes, you can replace the brushes on good quality brushed motors. You can't do it on the motors that come with your mini lama.

You'll just be better off replacing the brushed motors when they crap out. It'll take some time before it happens, and replacements are cheap anyways.

I don't think a brushless setup would really be worth it on a small coax heli.

i've seen hacks for 4-in-1's that make them work with brushless motors. using the original Tx,Rx, Gyro, and mixer, the only costs are the wires, motors, and escs (probably $150 to $200 total for the lama). you need some decent soldering skill as you'd have to open your 4-in-1 and solder esc power and signal wires to it, or you might find someone in these forums who can do the mod for you for a small fee.

i'm not sure on which particular 180motors/gearing work best with a lama, but believe it's been done before and is well documented at rcg. you could surpass 20min flight time with it or carry just heavier loads.