Growing up in the auto business and spending my younger days in a body shop before all the federal regulations, I can tell you the environment was just brutal on tools. (Lungs and general health too.) Most of the guys back then used Craftsman, S&K, Proto etc. The Snap on guy would come around with his fancy truck, but most of the guys couln't afford them even though you could buy used from him and set up an account. Yes, used. Also, If you needed something you had to wait on him.

Craftsman ratchets and sockets held up just fine and were affordable. Sears always had a big tool department and anything you needed was usually available and could be bought in sets if so desired.

I still have most of my Craftsman S&K stuff to this day and they are all very serviceable. I think that Snap on to some degree was overkill.