This is all very inspiring, making me motivated to replace my mess of mixed up and mismatched screwdrivers, but I thought it worth mentioning a recent experience.
I had a significant project involving #12 wood screws requiring driving into wood studs using a #3 phillips. Even though the pilot holes were made using a bit 1/32 larger than recommended for the screw size, about 10% of the 100 screws broke off while being installed.
The screws were new old stock and the supplier agreed with my guess that they were probably domestic US materials because they were on his shelf so long. That would seem to imply better than average screws.
What I am saying is that I am coming to the impression that the tools (screwdrivers in this case) probably far outclass the fasteners now.