Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I used to recommend DeWalt products to everyone who would listen to me because the ergonomics are so superior. Lately, though, the quality has gotten so bad, I have a hard time doing that. My suggestion is to skip all the reviews by people who just pulled it out of the box, and read the reviews by people who have used it for a while. I bought the DW618PK through Amazon several years ago. After about the 10th use, the plastic spindle lock button broke. I didn't care too much because it was a pain to use, so I started using two wrenches instead. Then, everything went into storage for 2 years (past the warranty period). Later, after about the 20th use, the motor died. It turns out that the magnetic ring on the armature fell apart (apparently, a common problem), but the pieces took out the windings on the armature, as well. I called a DeWalt repair shop for an estimate. They want $20 to tell me what's wrong and then there will be an hourly rate plus parts to repair it. Also, they are backed up for weeks with work. It will be about a month before they can get to it. It may cost as much as a new DW618 (for about $170 from Amazon), so I'm trying to decide if I should buy another brand, instead. If it wasn't for the quality problems, I still like the ergonomics. The handgrips are comfortable and the dust collection on the plunge base is great - as is the detachable cord, the quick-release latch for the motor, and the centering tool used when changing the subbase. When it runs, the motor is a good, strong motor, and I especially like the ability to easily switch between 1/4" and 1/2" bits. The spindle lock could have been better designed and it is much easier to lock the bit in using two wrenches, instead. A real spindle lock would have been nice. If ergonomics are important to you, then buy this one and cross your fingers. If you want reliability, look elsewhere.