umm, fischer has been making skis for years, and have been a major player on the race scene for a long time, you obviously have never skied them or you would know they are pretty durble (minus the topsheet problem on the addicts, which isn't a big deal anyway), i say get off your high horse generalizing stuff, when i've had my K2s break fast than any other ski i owned, and then learn they wouldn't warrentee them cause i hit rails (no edge breaks either).  customer service goes a long  way, and is something the large companies keep forgeting, but the smallones deliver.  oh and armada is made in the elan factory, which is no small company.