Ummmm, your info is incorrect, they are made by JD and they are setup in our area by the local dealer, either in their shop or a tech is sent to the store, each one has the local dealers sticker on them and the local dealer has the same models sitting in his showroom.
The big issue with the box store models is they are assembled with components to meet a price point of all the other big box store brands being sold which means you cant put a quality Kawasaki engine, a K66,72 or 92 axle, and other quality components in them and attain a less than 2K price point so it gets less expensive components which certainly don't have the life cycle of the good stuff. The other issue is the buyer, some think a 2K machine should work 5 acres for 25 years without issue, get real, not happening, you get what you pay for. Buy an X5, X7, or series 1, any of them over the long haul will have a lower overall cost and same purchase coin to keep replacing the cheap stuff every few years over time.