I'm not a Logger or other professional making a living with my saws, but they do get a lot of use heating my home.
Back in about 91, I bought my first chainsaw of my own, the 266XP and 23 Compact that I still have and use. When I was a kid my Dad had a McCulloch, Pro Mac 60, or Super Pro 60, something like that, that thing was a cutting beast for it's time, so I went shopping for Yellow and Black, unfortunately, by then, Mac wasn't the saw that I grew up with, what a disappointment when I looked at what they had become.
I knew people that had Stihl, and people that had Huskys, and each group Loved their saws, so I tried each, and felt then that the two brands were very comparable in Quality and performance.
It came down to, at the time, I felt that I got more saw for my money with Husqvarna, so that is what I bought, and have never regretted it, I have been Very Happy with the quality and performance of my saws, especially my 266xp, I'm never parting with that saw.
Today?, I still feel that Stihl and Husqvarna are equals from what I have seen in Quality and Performance, they are Both Excellent tools, I Love my Huskys, and am sticking with them, BUT, if My house burned down, or some little miscreant stole all my saws, or I had to replace the entire collection for some other reason, I would probably go with Stihl, simply because of the Vastly greater dealer network..
I used to have a Husqvarna dealer near where I lived, and the one that was near where I live now has become a Stihl Dealer, I give Jim and the guys at Sandy Chainsaw as much business as I can, and Jim didn't like hearing that I bought my Wife's Christmas Present, a Husky 445 from Xtreme Power Sports in Okanogan, WA. I understand WHY, so many Husqvarna dealers quit, they can't compete with Lowe's in the home owner market, which is where the bulk of the sales are, but the biggest saw they carry is the 460 Rancher, and just sell, don't service. Coastal Ranch and Farm also carries Husky, up to the 576XP I believe, but again no service, and just basic parts on the shelf.
I Hope that someday soon, Husqvarna, realizes their mistake, and does whatever it takes to rebuild their Dealer Network, because it is getting harder and harder to justify continuing to buy their products, the support just isn't there, but I sure Love their products, they have been strong reliable saws for over 25 years for me.
Doug