I’ve been into the AR thing only a couple of years now but it’s been long enough to note a trend. Seems like the community will have a darling manufacturer and everyone will sell their first born to buy there stuff then like a switch was thrown, people start chucking shade. You see it with everything and some of it has merit but for them most part it seems like high sport and entertainment to build up to tear down. Seems Geissele is the current target but I have seen: EO Tech, Aimpoint, Daniel Defense, Magpul, LaRue, BCM, Surefire, Troy and others take their turn at the stick. Is this a simple issue of competitors shading enough until it takes hold or do we as a community look forward to tearing apart manufacturers?
Most of the manufacturers that caught sh!t did something to earn at least some of it. Then you have the F.A.E. (forum amplification effect) which makes it seem like the world is mad at them when in reality, it’s like 50 cubicle dwellers avoiding doing actual work.
In all seriousness, I think a manufacturer becomes ‘the darling’ on an internet forum because someone with stature on the forum endorses them. It is easy to say something derogatory like ‘then the fawning masses follow’ but that isn’t truly the case. Folks on forums want to participate, one way to participate is to acknowledge a good experience with the manufacturer.
The momentum builds from there and more folks chime in because people also want to belong to the group that is winning. Anyone that disagrees at this point is shouted down. Therefore most people who disagree keeps their thoughts to themselves.
Some folks, maybe those with oppositional defiant disorder 
or, those who are naturally inquisitive and willing to put some thought into decisionmaking or, those who have had a bad experience with the manufacture, begin to question the assumption that the ‘darling’ manufacturer is all that darling.
At that point the folks who didn’t really by-into the ‘darlingness’ of the manufacture but have been silent begin to speak up. The process begins again.
Anyways, that is what I think, based on what I know about group dynamics. The reality is that in many cases the manufacture is really an acceptable manufacturer.
Fan fueled hype needs to be handled carefully, lest the brand should start to believe in it and think itself invincible, and can do no wrong.
Pride in quality and service is one thing, it’s not the same thing as hubris and arrogance.
The industry seems to have an unspoken rule to speak no evil of anyone. By the time the consumers notice something, it’s usually far worse and gone on much longer.
People act extreme online. “Its the best” or “its junk” are the 2 most common answers.
Stick with something that has a reputation of quality and CS and forget the bs.
I would not hesitate to use any of the manufacturers you listed.
You see that type of behavior in nearly all online forums. Tools, cars, sports, etc. You name it. It doesn’t seem specific to firearms or firearm forums to me.
My opinion… There’s about 7 billion people on the planet, and a great many wind up on the internet with a lot of them speaking (typing) on forums. The static to noise ratio can get pretty high.
Absolutely…try participating in the Porsche forums…it makes us look like cub scouts. On the other hand you have to have “purists” to point out flaws and thereby improve the overall products. ARs in particular have made great strides since even the 90s, and I have been into guns since the early 70s.
Here’s why the internet hated those companies for a hot minute. (Some of which may or may not be true, depending on your personal perspective)
•Geissele sued some people.
•Eotech ignored a major flaw in their optics.
•Aimpoints are expensive.
•Marty Daniel stepped on his dick and made a statement in support of gun control, also over gassed uppers.
•Magpul didn’t offer enough color PMAGS, and the BAD lever sucked ass.
•Mark LaRue is kind of a douche, but he makes good stuff.
•BCM lowers may or may not work with PMAGS.
•Surefire gave money to antigun politicians, also expensive.
•Troy hired one of the Ruby Ridge snipers.
Deleted.
Most of these are very valid points. LaRue is getting off easy in your assessment though 
These are the cliff notes, it’s highly encouraged for those who seek the answers to these questions to use the search function as well as google to get the whole story.
Most if not all companies/people have some sort of baggage. Some we will never know, speculation, past behavior elsewhere, firsthand knowledge to confirm suspicion of such while whitewashed to the new kids by someone with something to gain. Same stuff, different place, etc. I’ve always said the one who can spend hours upon hours on a forum is the default king.
Some groups are funny, the 6.5 Grendel crowd, Blue Box Smith and Wesson purist and the dips hits on Marlin Owners. When we get to AR’s, sure I’m a brand snob, but I also have seen first hand what is considered garbage here, shoot more than 99.9% of people here could ever afford to run through one and not break, by the hundreds.
Manufacturers of garbage guns don’t necessarily bother me. It’s when the manufacturer lies, Astro turf the forums, and turn customers away when their junk fails that I blast them.
LWRC and Olympics Arms are the two monumental scum bag companies that build complete junk and act as though they have premium stuff.
Better yet is all the $hit some manufacturers talk about each other on TOS.
It’s worse than a bunch of high schoolers over there, each trying to win the “LIKE ME” award.
Certainly doesn’t seem to be in effect on TOS…
Quite right, TOS is for entertainment, m4c for knowledge. I can only take “but Stroke Industries are cheaper” so many times, it’s an insult to be compared to foreign pot metal Gucci ghetto fashion poop makers.
Just don’t go on TOS and push back against the shillers *cough I mean site sponsors pushing BS. It ruffles their britches.
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And some people wonder why we have a “Contact the manufacturer first” rule…
It’s all business. Smart business and altruism go together like oil and water. Too many people mistake smart, mutually beneficial moves to be good will and get way too emotional about this stuff. It’s best to leave emotions out of it and stay objective.
I bought my first Colt AR15a2 HBar in 1988 after my promotion to Army Captain. It was a gift to myself. I had previously shot the M16a1 and carried in my aircraft the CAR15 XM177. During the ban years 1994-2004, I bought a Bushmaster. Traded it in for an LMT after the ban. Now I only own @ a dozen Colts and LMTs, including SBRs.
Some of us are familiar with certain brands, but if all I had was a Bushmaster or Stag, etc., I’d shoot it. If it stopped functioning in a critical situation, I’d use it as a club. My philosophy is if it sends lead down range with some level of accuracy, go with it. Considering the prices for what are considered top-end ARs these days, your money goes a long ways. Buy what you can afford and have fun shooting it. If you want greater reliability, you can improve on the base low-end weapon by minor parts changes. You’re not going to get any lip from me as to what brand you buy.
and there’s a couple of folks that are real butthurt about Aero, “their specs”, their lowers may or may not work with Lancers. they never waste an opportunity to flame on.