Yes, corps only use their equipment for two years, yet how many high schools practice every day for three months straight (with 12+ hour practices) and take the drums on tour, meaning that drums are put on busses and taken off daily, not to mention the beating they take while driving (even if they are in cases...cases
dont prevent problems, they only make them less likely). I think someone estimated one time that a year of corps is similar to five years of high school.
That comment about not needing other drum companies slayed me - that has nothing at all to do with the reason why there are different companies. Ever heard of capitalism and free market and all that? We need more than one company for competition in order to have quality products. Any owner of a Troby will tell you that.
And I have an extremely hard time believing that hardware would vibrate itself loose...I had a rather hard time getting the lugs OFF in the first place when I was switching to the six and eight inch spock setup. Not saying that you're lying; I just have a hard time seeing that happening.
As for drums sounding bad at low tension - exactly how low was the drum tuned? Floor tom-low? My friend bought a Dynasty snare, and it sounded fine not being reefed. It wasn't even cranked that high at all, and it sounded fine. And think about it, please - why would a bass drum (think drumset here, not battery) sound good with 45 degree bearing edges? That's not even why they do a rounded bearing edge - that's to give the drum a "fatter" sound, slightly lower fundamental tone.
Why the hell would you evaluate the quality of a company based on sponsorship deals? What if Regal Tip had the most amazing sponsorship deal? That wouldn't change the fact that the product is crap. What if Yamaha didn't even offer a sponsorship deal?
You guys are all going brand-crazy. Y'all need to stop bickering for like two seconds and realize that it isn't the drum that makes the drummer - it's now the drummer plays the drum. Go practice or something.