Not so sure about loyalty..... I'm just "hooked", in the sense of interchangablity of batteries, and chargers. It's pretty convienient to just take a battery from one tool, and jamb it into another. Personally, I have tried other peoples stuff out, and like Bosch, and Panasonic a little better. Both are slightly more expensive.
However, Panasonic is (for some reason) not available in my area. I can not just go out and get one if I want. Everyone who has one has gotten them on the internet. Makes me wonder about service if I needed it... And if I, (like someone I know) lost a battery and charger, would be left with an interesting piece of plastic for a while.
To make an analogy to cars...
Panasonic would be Lexus?
Bosch a BMW or Porsche (They are affiliated by the way)
Dewalt would be a Ford, or old VW bug, lots of them around, and interchangable parts, for the most part. Junk yard of parts everywhere.
Either way, they all get you from one place to another at about the same speed.
However, Ryobi, is the Hyundai of the tool world IMO.
Alan, "if you make it, they will come...."
[This message has been edited by e57 (edited 04-30-2006).]
