Ok, comments about LG and Samsung, along with front load economics in general...
If you want to buy a machine that nobody knows how to fix, where the manufacturer has made no effort to educate US servicers in general, where parts are difficult to identify and locate, then LG and Samsung are your best choice. Also, you might want to choose Fisher and Paykel. As far as durability of these brands, they probably differ little from their US counterparts. However, there really is no need to go international. Domestic brands are just fine, and if you really want a F/P style agitator, you can choose the Whirlpool Cabrio which, IIRC, uses F/P technology anyway. Are you mesmerized by steam? It is a gimmick. Nobody will ever know your garment was steamed, even you.
The movement of the appliance industry in general is toward machines that are so highly electronic and highly complicated, that only the largest service outfits will have the deep pockets to offer service on your machine, and the independents will slowly fade away. Let's say you have a $1k washer, and it is broken and no particular component presents itself as the exact problem. Now, which servicer will take the risk to install a $250 board or $375 motor in it to see if they can bring it back to life? No small servicer will stock those parts or take the risk of being wrong. They'll be relegated to the simpler machines, while all the popular ones with all the bells and whistles will be left to the big boys.
Regarding the economics of front loaders, I would agree that there is a very long breakeven point for these machines. Don't buy one for the energy or water savings, unless you live where there is no water. Probably the best reason to buy a front loader is if you want to install it right out there so that your friends and neighbors can see it. They'll be impressed, and you'll feel really good about yourself.
This is my dream, to take my 2k which I would use to buy a front loader set, and buy 3 regular washers, and 3 regular dryers, and then build a laundromat in my home, and do an entire week of laundry in an hour.