In this industry you really seem to get what you pay for. Some Snap-On/Harbor Freight offerings will throw that wisdom right out the window on either end of the spectrum, but for a strong majority, it'll hold true. Don't forget those good non-truck companies like others have mentioned, Klein and...
Might be a tough list to compile.
From what I've experienced with Craftsman for example, the age and specific type of tool in question would give a huge range of quality. Most modern Craftsman hand tools I'd consider bottom tier, not much better than your typical Harbor Freight fare, but the...