I knew this was going to be a heated debate when I saw the posting. I am impressed with this group that, for the most part, it was kept very civil. This debate can be very polarizing. Me personally, I don't buy Snap-on, Mac or Cromwell. Oh, I have some that I have acquired here and there and they're nice tools. I won't ever deny that. I'm just wired to not spend that kind of money on things. Tools, as with everything like liquor, guns, cars, etc. are subject to the law of diminishing returns. If you spend three times as much, you are not getting three times better of a tool. You are getting a better tool , but not better proportionally to the dollars spent. With tools, it's a little harder to quantify due to things like feel and finish are all subjective qualities and each individual not only rates each quality differently but also how important that specific category is in the grand scheme of things. There is no right or wrong answer to this debate. Only what is right for each individual.
I just try to find tools that are of good quality for the least amount of money. I have some Husky tools that I really like (made by Stanley btw), I have some Kobalt sockets that I have used for years, some older Craftsman (Sears era), Gearwrench, Armstrong and some Harbor freight stuff. I really like the color coded sockets from Harbor freight. I've even used them with my Milwaukie 1/2" fuel impact with no problems. I think a person should weigh whether they are using them daily for a living or just working on their own vehicles on the weekend and then, most importantly, what they can afford. I would rather have a more varied tool selection of cheap tools than a limited selection of better tools. Just how I am wired.
For my shop, steel fabrication not automotive, I buy cheap tools for my employees to use. We lose and break a lot of tools. It's just the nature of the beast.. I've had venders try to sell me on the value of more expensive tools and they make good points until we come to part about the warranty covering lost tools. But when you have cheap tools, you don't mind bending, cutting and welding on them to solve a particular problem.
I do not like the seduction that the tool trucks have to younger mechanics and the debt that they can accrue. But is that the fault of the tool trucks? Perhaps some but mostly no. I would hope that older mechanics or better yet, wherever they received their training would counsel the younger guys on what is important first. Get serviceable tools for a modest amount of money and then upgrade as time and money allows. I do know that if a jeweler was stopping by my wife's work on a weekly basis and offering necklaces, pendants, and rings all on an installment plan i would probably show up and give him a black eye.
For the guys that buy off the tool truck, I applaud your willingness to get the best that you can. I really can appreciate that. I am even a little jealous of your top shelf tool collections. You make your living with those tools and I can find no fault with that. It just doesn't work for me that way. Not for tools. But then I have no problem buying a $1000 fly rod. It's all about your priorities.