Self-serving? Hardly. BHMA is the only Standards Development Organization (SDO) that is permitted to write ANSI standards for door hardware. BHMA is comprised of more than 60 hardware manufacturers, including ASSA ABLOY (Sargent, Yale, Norton, Emtek, Mul-T-Lock, Medeco, August, ..), Allegion (Schlage, Von Duprin, Falcon,...) dormakaba (Best Lock) Spectrum HHI (Kwikset, Baldwin, Weiser, Stanley,..) and 60 others.
https://portal.buildershardware.com/membercompanies?&&reload=timezone
BHMA doesn't have any staff to write standards, the member companies write commercial hardware standards (Grades 1, 2 and 3) as well as residential hardware standards (Grades A, B, and C) under the ANSI/BHMA A156.** moniker. BHMA manages a Certification Program in which third party independent labs (like UL and ITS) test randomly acquired hardware to the A156.** standard, and determine if the hardware does meet the requirements of the ANSI/BHMA standard. The results are published in a real time, online, Certified Product Directory on the BHMA website. This isn't the manufacturer advertising "Hey, our stuff is great"; it's 3rd party attestation the product meets an established standard.
You can say you don't believe A156.39 or A156.40 provide adequate security, durability or finish, and you may be right for certain residential applications. Then, you may jump into the ANSI/BHMA 156.** standards for Commercial hardware (Grades 1, 2 and sometimes 3) . You pay your money and take your choice. I have no idea if the locks your are calling junk are rated A, B or C... or are even BHMA Certified product - but you can check here:
https://buildershardware.com/Certification-Program/Certified-Products-Directory
The reason BHMA developed these 2 Residential standards, the standardized grading system and icon that is on the packaging of Certified products , and the Certification Program is to assist people like yourself in assuring the locks they purchase are meeting established performance standards for durability, security and finish longevity.
https://buildershardware.com/Portal.../156.39 HH 2019.pdf?ver=2019-04-09-105214-190
https://buildershardware.com/Portal.../156.40 HH 2019.pdf?ver=2019-04-09-105214-130
If you want more detailed information, you can purchase and download the full ANSI standard online, and read in excruciating detail exactly what testing Certified Products must go through - with ongoing annual testing for re-certification.
Most people want to replace their residential hardware with locks and locksets that fit the existing door prep - hence the relatively new BHMA residential standards. Many commercial locksets simply won't easily fit in an existing residential lock prepped door.