Hiya all, may as well make this my first proper reply as a newbie to the forums (looks good so far).

Huffy challenge huh, my experience with them......well, let's say i got to bring out the tools lol
We got our lad a Huffy Bmx from Wally world as someone " heads hang in shame " split the steerer tube on his bike the week before & couldn't get a replacement fork in time for following weekend. Anyway, mom brought said bike home with lad, lad was chuffed and off he went out with a smile. Me, being the doting dad, told him that we would strip it down at end of fall as it was needing a bit of tlc. Could tell straight away that the BB was a tad rough lets say. Opened it up and to my amazement (well, not really too amazed) to notice that no grease what so ever had been applied to the BB, stripped the Headset and yup....you guessed it...no grease! I was quite flabbergasted to find the wheel bearings had been greased lol
Anyway, rebuilt bike and now good to go. and yes, of course i went to the shop. Only to be told to bring it back as was under warranty but could take up to a month. Well of course i told them where they could go and just said quietly that they were lucky my kid come to no harm through an unsafe bike.
I personally wouldn't blame the build quality of Huffy and similar store bikes, but more how they are assembled (my 6yr old could do a better job).

And no idea, what the OP was after but hey, that's my Huffy experience

As for a cheap commuter, i not long purchased (as winter bike) a '91 Spec Hardrock $50 (bottom end components as in GS200). But bike is all original, excluding the seat and really quite good condition overall.
I could of got a season or two out of original pads & cables but replaced them straight away as i do with most 2nd hand bikes. I did give it a complete strip down & rebuild but only because i like to tinker.

Phew, first post/reply and what a long one eh guys & dolls....apologies