Have all companies given up on making decent products or just some of the fishing equipment ones I have dealt with recently? 

My $2500 Minn Kota trolling motor had a problem that a $25 aftermarket sleeve solved. Yet folks at Minn Kota told me they knew of the problem and there was no fix.

When I sent them proof there was a simple cheap solution they could implement, I got no response.

T-H Marine makes a replacement trolling motor pull handle that I have used in the past that worked well. I recently installed a new one and the eyes of the Allen set screws that came with it stripped out with almost no pressure.  They would not tighten down.

When I contacted T-H Marine they said they did not see that as a big problem and they sold many of the handles.  They are aware of the problem but it is not a big one to them.  In their defense, they did send me new screws that seem to be good.