The belts do wear. They don't wear on the top or (toothed) bottom, they wear on the sides. As they are V-shaped belts, wear on the sides means they ride lower in the also V-shaped pulleys - therefore they need tensioning now and then. About once a year I'd say is okay, and once a few hours after a new belt was installed, more is a sign of trouble. A sure sign of excess wear is black dust on the alternator or the timing belt cover, which is the bits that came off the alternator belt.
Carry a spare belt, it's only £10 - the one for the MD22 standard alternator is a Gates 6219MC (AVX10 x 975 La, meaning 10mm wide, 975 mm long), although on my upgraded Balmar alternator I found the slightly longer 1000mm belt (Gates 6220MC) was a better fit.