Previous Snap-On Dealer here.
Its like this... If you use these hand tools for a profession OR you like a high quality product and enjoy the many small benefits, buy the Snap-On.
The small advantages like the thickness (or lack there of), flank drive plus, chamfered edges, open end arc (many competitors have this now), and overall quality of metal, make it a better tool.
There is truth in this. I have a mix of stuff from HF to decades old Craftsman to GearWrench, etc… Over the years, a few things here and there have broken - split sockets, chipped screwdriver tips, and so forth. Honestly, not from abuse, but probably from using it harder than was expected. But that isn’t what I judge tool quality on.
Every now and then I’ll be called on to do something at a family member’s or friend’s place and when I ask if they have any tools they haul out some conglomeration of “tools” that look like they were prizes out of a cereal box. I have no idea where people are even buying these things. Even the HF stuff is better than this stuff - and would likely serve the average homeowner without issues. As long as you’re buying above that level, you’re more than halfway there.
The times I really appreciate quality tools is when it isn’t an average project. Like tplane says, thickness is a big issue. I find the cheaper tools bulk up to compensate for lower quality materials. I’ve seen a lot of situations where a cheaper tool just won’t fit because the wall thickness of the socket or the head of the wrench is just too big. Then you start doing stupid things to try to make things work. The other thing is how well the tool grips when you’re dealing with corroded fasteners and such. A cheaper tool will round things off, slip off, or do other damage where a quality tool gets the job done.
As such, and guessing you’re on a budget of some sort, start out with the biggest combo set you can afford from one of the box brands - Craftsman, Husky, Kobalt, etc. Pay attention and wait for sales - you can save a lot right there. But then from that, add to the set as you have the funds and pay attention to what you need and where you’re running into trouble. Something as simple as a screwdriver seems like nobody could f*** it up. But then you use a really quality screwdriver and realize how much easier it makes such a simple task. It doesn’t slip off the fastener. It doesn’t strip out the head. As you learn, you’ll find the things that you want to spend money on to do right.
The advantages of the tool truck brands for the professionals comes down to “time is money.” They come to the shop so you’re not out running around trying to find the tool you need. You’re also not going to make more work for yourself with stripped fasteners or breaking parts rather than removing them. When you start looking at the other costs - wages, benefits, overhead - of a business, the extra paid on tools is a lot more understandable.
