This is another of those threads that define a person's wants vs. needs. Everyone would like to have a top of the line Snap-on, Matco, Mac, Lista, etc. cabinet or box to put their tools in. That is defined as a want...
The reality for many is that the HF boxes are a very good value for the money and satisfy the second part of the above statement. They are often what a person needs.
Is a used top of the line box an alternative? Yes they are but only if one is available at a decent price. If they are not for sale or priced too high for what they are, a lower cost, NEW box is an attractive alternate. Buying American is nice but not a viable option for everyone on this board and they should not be ridiculed for making a sound FINANCIAL choice.
It might not be your choice but it might be the right choice for THAT person. I happen to have a top and bottom 41" HF box with a side box and a fairly nice SO 1023 roller with a side locker, riser and top storage. Each one has its place and the HF box was my primary until I lucked up on the SO. To be honest about it, the SO is MUCH nicer but then again, I still think someone who buys that box off of the truck has entirely too much disposable income on their hands. I would rather put the extra money into paying off my house.
Does that make someone who pays $20,000+ for a Snap-on box nuts? No, their needs are not mine and their financial situation is different also. In this case, the HF box will do exactly what the OP wanted, it will hold his tools, roll around and lock up. It is a better box for the money than anything else I have seen in that price range and should last the average homeowner decades before something goes wrong.
My take on all of this? To the OP, go for it. The HF box is a LOT of box for the money. It might not be made in America but neither are a lot of other items in most of our houses including the computers we are working on.
