Forget name brand -- generic RAM has improved GREATLY in the past decade, and nowadays, RAM is not nearly as likely to fail as it used to be. When it does fail, it can be hard to diagnose, but is unlikely to result in loss of data, especially if you take care to backup important data regularly.
And heck, if your generic dies, it costs practically nothing to replace. I've gotten 8+ years out of generic RAM before, and as RAM gets more and more reliable as time progresses, stuff you buy now will probably last longer than your desire to keep it.