I was in a local power equipment store last year (lawnmowers, chainsaws and such) and they had a lineup of Toro lawnmowers. The owner showed me two superficially identical models-- except one was the "old" Toro, and the other was what you'd buy at Home Depot. Cast body vs. stamped steel, better gears, all kinds of little stuff. People go to HD thinking they're buying their father's Toro. They're not. Apparently Toro has two different lines-- quality and discount. HD doesn't carry the quality line.
And they are not paying the same price either, are they? If cast body vs stamped is important to you, do your research and get ready to pay the price delta. You can buy industrial grades stuff - it's out there, for $$$$$. If you go to the big box places, and shop by price, you need to make sure you are getting what you want.
I'm glad they have the"cheap" stamped stuff. I have a 1 acre lawn. I bought a cheap ($900 - that's cheap for something to handle an acre) tractor/mower 17 years ago, used it for 11 years, running it very hard (I cut the grass in the highest gear I can manage), and it required very little maintenance. Bought a replacement at Sears 6 years ago ($1,100) - much more power, better turning radius,
superior in every way. So far, one $30 belt replacement ( I was pulling a weighted down lawn aerator at the time - quite a strain to put on this machine), and the battery is getting weak - routine stuff. I have no desire to pay more for better quality, I think they are doing just fine.
That said, after working in the auto industry for a quarter century+, I know that efficient cost reductions are a real art - ..... A classic example was their battery terminals - just thin stamped, plated copper as opposed to our, then, beefy lead terminals. Now everyone uses this type of terminal. Simply removing content for cost reduction is a real losing game,
And over-designing is a loser's game, resulting in higher cost to the consumer, lost business to the seller, and higher environmental impacts on the earth.
I've never seen a thin, stamped, copper plated battery terminal fail. Less lead, less weight (better mpg), and possibly lower electrical resistance (depending on design).
I don't think we should be too quick to confuse "big & beefy" and "that''s how they did it in the old days" with "high quality".
I need me one of them big, beefy computers with those glass tubes that take up several rooms, and could heat my house (all summer!) - they just don't build 'em like THAT anymore!
-ERD50