We use them for our horse farm operation. They work well. For a time. The ones we have, the ones you typically see - are translucent. They will get very brittle after a year or two stored outside. If you treat it like an egg, it will survive. But the BEST thing to do is throw something over top of them that will take the UV beating instead, therefore prolonging the life of the tote. For our farm and our purpose, we don't really care if they are food grade, we just get a new one when it wears out. But for my maple syrup next season I will be covering or storing the food grade ones indoors. I think they are definitely worth it.
Good luck!
Mark
2010 8 taps on 3gal buckets
2011 20 taps on 5gal buckets
55gal home made collection tank
20gal ss stock pot w/ turkey fryers
2012 40-50 taps on 5gal buckets
250-275gal collection tank on back of truck
ANYTHING different to boil on.