Allegedly Danaher, maker of Armstrong, Matco, K-D, Allen, also make the OEM Craftsman mechanics tools (I'm limiting that to wrenches and socketry). This discussion comes up a lot on other forums which I frequent.

I own a little of everything. Not literally, but I have a little bit of Snap-on, Armstrong, Craftsman, Elora, S-K, etc. In my opinion, they are all about the same, as far as getting jobs done. It is a tool, use it to get the job done. I have no qualms when I saw off the open end part of a Craftsman combination wrench so I can slip a cheater pipe on it to loosen a hard to reach nut. The warranty is now invalid, but the time and frustration saved on a paying job was more than worth the cost of a $4.00 wrench. I might be a little hesitant to do the same on a Snap-on or Armstrong wrench, just because they are nicer.

These days I often get frustrated with my local Sears, because they don't have what I need when I need it. I've got a good assortment of tools (and have wrenched on cars for a couple of decades, as an amateur) but sometimes I need a tool I don't have, so I buy them as I need them. I've even bought Duralast (gasp!) tools at the local Autozone. They actually look very well made, in Taiwan.

If you feel that most expensive=the best, then I won't try to convince you otherwise. Is the Snap-On truck there for you on the weekends when you need him most? Personally, I think from the actual use of the tools, you'll find little difference among tools of similar origin. Expensive tools have a lifetime warranty. Some cheaper tools have a lifetime warranty. The cheapest tools usually let you down.

All the tools made in so called "first world" nations are of comparable quality. They all screw up sometimes, hence the nicknames like Snap-off and Crapsman. Nobody gets it right all the time.

I will buy tools anywhere. Pawn shops, auto stores, flea markets, friends. I stick to well known brands that back them with a warranty. I know my stash of tools is a little less likely to grow legs when they are all different brands and don't all match. Sometimes they don't make them like they used to. Sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes it is a bad thing.

Good tools cost money. After that, it is all diminishing returns.