I went with Icon for the flex head, and again for a swivel ratchet because I found it great for spinning out spark plugs. If space is tight I still use the Stanley ratchets just because they're the smallest ones I've got. Adapters and extensions are a mix of Pittsburgh, Icon and some Neiko stuff from Scamazon.

I mostly deal with Harbor Freight since there's one in town less than ten minutes from me. I haven't had to warranty anything (most of my mechanic's tools were purchased this year) but it's nice knowing just about everything is lifetime and I won't have to wait on a tool truck or drive twenty miles or more when that time comes. Also the sales. Excepting what I needed at the moment to fix my truck, I've made it a point to try only buying stuff on sale.

Can't speak for the new black chrome sets. Some have more in them; one I saw had essentially the same socket sets as mine in addition to some combo wrenches, hex keys and whatnot. Don't know if they're as good. Plenty good enough for a kid fixing up bikes, learning to wrench on mowers, etc I would imagine.