IMO - Champion customer service is available "nationwide" and on a par with anything offered by the local Yamaha & Honda dealers (who really prefer to deal with things "other than" generators!)
I agree with a lot of your post, but I can't come close to agreeing with you about parts and service.
I had trouble with one of my EU2000i generators at the Richmond NASCAR race a few years ago. I was 700 mles from home. I went to a local Honda dealer who changed the parts I needed (carb spacer and gasket). I was back at the "campground" 2 hours later with my generator repaired at no charge (still under warranty).
First of all I'm not sure if I could find a Champion dealer and I doubt anyone that sells them stocks parts.
The 3500 Champion may be an inexpensive alternative for a generator, but you really can't copare them to a Honda or Yamaha inverter generator. I stand by my statement that the only way I would buy a Chinese generator is if I could save a lot of money. Honda and Yamaha have been around for a long time and I expect they will be around for a long time. I'm not so sure about Champion, Magna, Kipor, Boily, etc.
I would hate to spend a significant amount of money on a generator to find them out of business in a couple years, with no parts available.
