I have no complaints about refrigerators but hot water tanks do seem to die on a schedule. This year my friends tank failed 2 weeks after the 6 year warranty expired. Ours died 6 months after the warranty. I noticed that one with a 12 year warranty could be purchased for twice the price. I’m not sure what the implications are.
The good news is that flexible water connection hoses with sharktooth connector are now available so it is much easier to replace the hot water tank.
I would try the lower cost refrigerator as long as I could install it myself.