Answer: YES, NO, DEFINITELY, POSITIVELY, MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, AND IT DEPENDS.
There is no doubt that tools bought from other sources sometimes and often last a lot longer than tools bought at HF. There are some tools, however, that are outrageously overpriced for their use, and HF is a good deal.
Ferinstance: A two way square post level. Cheap at HF, a lot more somewhere else. How many times are you going to use a two way post level?
Hammers: Decent enough at HF, but if you're a framer, you may want to go the extra $$ for a good one elsewhere.
Power equipment: Okay for occasional use.
Air tools: see above.
Bottom line: If you know your tools, you know when it will last for YOUR purpose. If you need something for heavy industrial every day use, you need to spend the bux and get a good one, because you're depending on it to work every day no questions asked, and make you money. For other stuff, HF is okay.
I got a band saw, and I like it a lot. I know it wouldn't last for constant or hard use, but it works for what I need. It was $149, and most others are
3 to 8 times that much.Steve