There isn't anything wrong with this thread by the OP, he may have jumped to the conclusion this was exclusively a HF stand. I have 2 sets of 6's, both China but made by 2 different companies, one is slightly better.
I'll never get under a vehicle held up by one. My life is worth more than $20.
I'm not defending HF jack stands or insulting the OP. I don't own any HF jack stands, but I know they sell them by the truckload and we rarely hear of any actual failures.
The second quote is fairly accurate, millions of these in uses daily.
As for the 20$ risk,,, We seem to accept other peoples junk and junk tires hurtling at us at 60 MPH, thousands of them going like bullets past us but worry about jackstands which by some account may be responsible for saving 1000's of injuries due to the fact a guy can buy reliable protection for the low cost vs doing something else or,,, nothing due to the fact he cant afford or isn't going to spend the money, save up for long periods to afford them,,,,, and like myself they were so reasonable I bought 2 more sets so there is no excuse not to get them.
This may be true for business owners, lot easier to talk the boss in to 50$ set than 150 especially if times are tight.
3rdly,,, The USA welding has got a lot better now that we have the China welding under scrutiny the American welding has got a little better. I have a good ole picker, USA OTC made thing, the welding looks like a grade schooler did it compared to my Buds folding HF which is absolutely flawless and not so much as a pinhole in the whole thing.
I have seen a lot of OTC pices over the years and they have been behind the welding curve for decades and should take some lessons from the Chinese school kids supposedly doing all this welding.