We get what we're willing to pay for, and most everyone shops based on price alone. Just look how many people are willing to buy junk alum heads when they know they're getting recycled beer cans in a rough shape of a head, but they're so cheap!
The real difference is that we used to have OEMS buying lifters, and because of that some of their quality systems trickled into commercial parts. Since no OEM is running AMC style flat tappet lifters these days, that's no longer the case and lowest bidder wins every time..