Depends upon the model. The well-loved 22RE (and similar engines from Nissan/etc of that era) seem to suffer from guide issues around 150-200k. Lifetime? IMO it was honestly beyond what was considered "lifetime" at that time. Similarly the V8 motors of old had chains that stretched (or nylon gears that erroded) before/around then, despite being shorter in length. And again, many of them were pushing up weeds around that time anyhow.
But for both types I think it was not a major job to do. Well, maybe the 22RE was (not sure on any of them) but comparing the work done every 60-80k for a timing belt vs every 150-200k on a chain, I suspect it's a wash. [Timing belts used to be 60k items, today they can be up to what, 120k?]
I'd say it's too model dependant to go too much by blanket statements.