Originally Posted by FBinNY

First of all, you need to understand a critical difference between the adjustable angular bearings classic to bicycle.

Angular bearings require preload to eliminate play. In radial bearings that's achieved in the bearing itself. These bearings cannot tolerate axial preload, which leads to rapid bearing failure. Radial bearings are used where no meaningful axial loads are expected, so one adjusts to minimize axial play, short of adding an axial preload.

I suspect the pedals are fine, and the issue is your misconceptions and expectations.