I have ran into many instances where a shallow broached deep socket wouldn't allow enough clearance to get the nut off of the stud or allow room for the ratchet and socket to get on the nut in the first place to install because it won't allow the nut to travel up into the socket. Just off the top of my head the most common instance for this that most folks run into is probably the nut on the top stud on a shock absorber and clearance between it and a fender well.
A nice quality finish is easier to keep clean and tends to stand the test of time better than a lesser quality finish. A rougher finish on the inside of a socket will hold dirt & grease. I suspect it's not just not as pretty to look at, but more likely to turn to rust over enough time. I have 1/4" thru 3/4" sets of USA made Craftsman sae and metric sockets in shallow and deep (and 3/8 mids) and most are more than 30 years old. Some are from my grandfather and decades older still. I've never broken one and all still have a nice finish inside and out.
And lastly, yes, most Craftsman sockets, ratchets, wrenches, etc have been made overseas in China, Taiwan, etc, going back 5 or more years now and that's likely all you will find in a Sears or KMart any more. As I pointed out though in an earlier post on this thread, there still can be found new-old-stock sellers of USA-made Craftsman sets at lower prices than any other sets of comparable sizes from any other USA-made brands that I know of.
I had linked a few USA-made Craftsman sets that included 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2 dr in metric and sae that came out to roughly ~$2 a socket, if not slightly less, plus included extras like ratchets and extensions and wrenches and allens and bits, etc. I'm sure that price can be cut in half by Taiwan or China made stuff these days, but it's not a better "bang for your buck" IMHO. Not even close.
