I agree with your thesis. Once a brand is established, the quality goes. I use Stihl chainsaw and associated equipment. Once they were the standard-bearer in motoculture as it's called here. Now, they are nowhere as good as they were. Why? Because every home DIY garden enthusiast has to have Stihl, so now you can buy them in every Home Depot type place in France. The pros round here use ECHO which is part of Mitsubishi Corporation.

Thanks!