I have some feelings regarding S-K so I figured I'd chime in, even though I don't do any serious mechanical work anymore. The only late model S-K stuff I've handled are from yard/estate sales. The ones I've seen with the dot between the initials all look very nice. I sell them off because I have no reason to keep them. My first-line combo DOE and DBE wrenches are S-K 1950s-60s from the old Lectrolite plant in Defiance OH. Some of these have traces of weak chrome in box broaching that are apparently hanger artifacts, so what S-K Eric said about antiquated equipment and processes makes sense to me, since Ideal inherited the Defiance plant. Some dubious product was coming out of that plant in the years immediately before Ideal, and from what I've seen, Ideal has corrected a lot of those issues.
S-K's decision to honor warranties on all product, sales receipt or no, even that which was made prior to Ideal is exemplary, and it should be honored for that. It didn't have to do that, you know.
I think some problems are coming from the SuperKrome. Never cared for this approach, but I understand the marketing pressures for going that way. Some buyers feel that super-shiny polished is good. It's a feature of modern tool making. I can't imagine trying to pull this off with old Lectrolite equipment and processes. And as mentioned before, overseas factories don't have the same environmental restrictions. I remember in the office furniture business as USA mfrs moved away from chrome framed seating to powder coating because the regulations made chroming + disposal of the chemicals just too expensive and involved. I'd rather pay less for the same item in satin finish, but that's just me. If you're trying to sell a USA product with heavy chrome at a certain price point, especially against the China stuff where the government has less issue with poisoning its own land and people (you should read about what goes on in the computer component mfg processes over there), that can be quite a challenge.
To some, made in USA means something. I'm one of those. To some others it doesn't, and I get that too. For those who care about a USA-made product, I can understand their willingness to overlook minor imperfections, especially when it comes to an old-time traditional brand like S-K. But I can also understand the frustration with defective product, since one of the ideas behind USA product is supposed to be superior quality.
Yes, there are a few GJ members that are like piranha--when they smell blood in the water, they come out of the shadows to pounce on the victim. I've seen it in far too many threads. Personal unhappiness and frustration seeking an outlet plus the need to make one's self feel fulfilled at the expense of others. But for the most, I think the complaints about S-K quality control are motivated, not by simply wanting to knock the company, but by the idea that they WANT S-K to succeed. They WANT S-K to make products in the USA that we can all be proud of. They don't want to see it go the way of so many other USA tool companies. They want the pride of ownership that should come with tools made by a long-standing USA company. Persistent quality control issues makes staying in that marriage more difficult--you can only forgive your spouse for cheating on you so many times before you call it quits.
I think there are many of us who sincerely hope in out heart of hearts that S-K can resolve whatever quality control issues it might be having before the fan base erodes too much. We don't want or need to lose another grand old USA company.
don't fall asleep on this one 
