Some truth, but some is fact. For sure they can all be made to be fast !! I think from the mid 1980's on down, it mattered what brand you bought for durability, and reliability. Personally, I've seen more small block chivies with rods hanging out the oil pan, and none on any other brand. I'm talk'n stock short blocks.
Same here, I think that's because people who owned them would spin them like a chain saw, everyone thinks that you have to launch your car at 7k. The small block Chevys are known as hangernades