Why start a thread like this about an obsolete model saw? Are you an agent for the Troll? I mean, you may as well post a thread like this about the $50 Chicom Earthquake saws that people are buying up like crazy here?
The 290 was the most popular saw Stihl sold, and for a really long time. So from a marketing perspective it was a huge hit. I ran one for years, and I do not regret running it. They are easy to use and easy to modify, and they hold up over time. I see these saws used more than any other saw by county and road crews here. Yah, there are better saws, but for far more money. That is the same with just about any saw as well. I like my 361s better, but they are not so much better than a 290 that I would not be able to cut wood or sleep because I did not own one. And compared to many saws I used for years previous to the 290, it was miles ahead. It also has some pro features, like a fully adjustable oiler. It can also be easily improved with a 360 clutch drum and rim drive. Poke some holes in the muffler in the right places, and they improve rather well for zero cost.
I have owned/run all of the 1127 saws. Comparing the saws in the series, I like the 310 the best and I still have one. It is the smoothest running of the lot, and with a simple muffler mod they can have the power of a stock 390. The 029 was too underpowered for me, even with a muffler mode. The biggest fault of the 390 is overly high vibration. The 029 and 290 rev lower than the 310 and 390, mainly because they have smaller carbs in them. I have had over a half dozen 026 saws as well. I dunno why you think they are so great, as they do not even have the power of a 290. Compare 3.2 HP < 3.8 HP: 19% more power to the 290. I cannot say that my 026s have held up any better over time than my 290/310s have. The 026 is far easier to modify and work on, but they had a much higher price tag as well. From a new price perspective, I never saw the 026 or 260 as being worth the money. Used, the 026/260s sell for about the same price as a 290s around here, in the $200-300 range. So over time, the 290 has held its value way better than the 026/260 has.