I know it's been >1yr so maybe lithium saws are in your sites now (couldn't blame you, am expecting/hoping my next real saw purchase will be a lithium husq or echo model) but would say that the $90-140 'scheppach csp2540' (the badging on mine) / jon cutter / un-labelled 25cc/10-12" 7lbs saws are awesome, I'm going to order a 2nd soon so I can modify mine more aggressively and get hard #'s for pre/post mods but they're all over amazon/ebay I couldn't suggest them higher I mean for that price you could get 2 and put great bar/chain setups on them (my version, the 'scheppach csp2540' which is 140 shipped, came w/ an Oregon bar&chain 91p type which was nice although @10" I have it in the parts drawer, using instead a 12" Echo bar and even though I removed the 1.5" deep front-bumper on the saw - for more cutting-length - and have that 12" bar, I can still just *bury* it in fact I only call for my 33cc/16" when something's over 11.75" lol otherwise I never let of mine in 8mo it's always been my most-used!! And you mention chains...unsure why you've got a chain-longevity problem, is it possible you're keeping them too-tight? I dunno if it's 'beneath you' but walmart has 2-packs of "tri-link" chains for $15 for 12"'s and $22 for 16"'s, I know they're not great but I'll take a new chain over a duller-but-better chain anyday yknow? I know I should sharpen on-site but in-practice I've found guys I work for and even clients view it as you doing 'chainsaw maintenance' while you should be working I've almost given-up entirely I think I'll simply sharpen 2-3 chains at a time for each of my saws so I can always show-up with 3 fresh chains for each powerhead that should be fine for most gigs I've ever had