I was under the impression for many years that all Poulans were junk. That opinion was the result of living in Pioneer/Mcculloch/Homelite country that later became Husky country. The only Poulans we ever saw were the bottom of the line stuff sold at garden centers back after the first oil embargo. They weren't well cared for as a rule and were purchased based entirely on price. By the time we got them they were usually pretty well trashed. At that time people were bringing these things in to trade on a small Husky along with old Remingtons, Sears, Monkey Wards, Western Auto, Gambles and those mail order jobs that no one has heard of since like Comet, Roper, Spiegel and Strunk. So for us they were no names that didn't run, had missing parts and back then to get parts you had to write a letter IF you could find an address and wait 3 weeks for a reply. They went in the junk pile.
Years later a guy at work started giving me his old saws. None of them were anything special but one was a Poulan. First time I got that thing started I thought I had at least a 5ci saw. To this day when you rev it up it wants to climb to the right like an F15! It's a great cutting saw and considering I've done very little to it, I'm actually quite impressed with it. Same guy also gave me a Poulan Pro 375 that is another major surprise, but since the book I'm just finishing states PP is what came of the remains of Pioneer I'm not surprised.
Truth be told, there are few "junk" saws that were made prior to the last few years. I say that with the caveat of consideration for the technology available and the target buyers. One of my biggest surprises was a little Homie Super EZ. That little devil hung of the hames of my horse and never failed me, or to surprise me, till the day it swallowed a muffler nut or something.
Anyway, just as so many "off brand" saws today, ie- anything not Stihl or Husky, get a "rep" down at the barbershop, so did Poulan in my area back in the 70's/80's. We just didn't know what we didn't know!