Sprinkler Man, you make good points. I have to wonder sometimes about the typical American consumer. Some of this is what I call, "the walmart-i-zation" of America. People buy things based first and foremost on retail price point, so we now have an entire generation that does not understand the difference between price and value.
We end up with a lot of folks buying the cheapest tires they can, then either defending it to the death, or complaining when it fails.
Sometimes, you really do "get what you pay for". But hey, if the ST defenders want to buy those products, I say, have at it. It's their dollars to spend any way they choose. But don't make up non-fact based arguments to support the point. Say it like it is: it was cheap, I am happy with it, it works for me, but others may need something more.