The technology is improving by the month, but many, if not most, solar lights still do not provide enough illumination to help people see to climb steps, etc. It is more like "X marks the spot" where the steps or sidewalk begin.

In terms of actual illumination and durability of the solar panels, it is still very much a case of you get what you pay for. Gardener's Supply (www.gardeners.com) offers some very good quality solar lights in terms of durability of the panels. I have a set of carriage style garden lights that are going strong as they enter their 5th year.   They mark the boundary between the drive an the garden. But they do not illuminate the walking surface. They sinply mark the line of the path. I haven't tried any of the more recent solar spotlights that are supposed to actually provide illumination enough to 'see.'