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My bike has just had bits replaced until I found all the ones I liked that worked well. 456 with XT, Saint crank, Blackspire bash and rings, Hope hubs (20mm), Mavick rims, Marzocchi 55's (oil and coil), Titec, Hope disks, Spoon saddle. All chosen as it does the job. Lasted me about 6 years, forks just replaced this year and now I'm happy with it. It suits my riding style and I don't think it'll change, so no need to get rid.
I have however bought 5 other bikes in that time for other riding styles and may well buy a few more over the years!
Ride it until you don't enjoy riding it. Simple. And if you are the sort of person who can't enjoy it because it's not shiny and new, or because someone else has a newer model, then you should probably save your dosh and put it towards psychotherapy.
My hardtail is a 2000 cannondale 900, the road bike is a OCLV 5900 of similar vintage (the cannondale had an early upgrade to hope brakes and rear wheel, but otherwise both have only had consumables replaced) and my "new" bike is a 2007 s-works stumpjumper fsr. My long lost 1994 zullo road bike is waiting to be reborn too.
Expensive bikes are easier to justify when they run forever.