Shocks: looking for Blistein quality at KYB price.

I was running Bilstiens on my Duster, and over time they seem to have gotten stiffer, like so harsh it wasn't enjoyable to drive. Even pressing down on the bumper with all of my weight, I could barely get the front end to move. I ended up removing them and replaced them with a set of QA1 adjustables, it was a night and day difference, so much better. The Bilstiens I took off didn't feel quite right, they feel like something is wrong with one of them, I can barely move the piston in or out of it. I'm assuming something failed inside, which was not expected for the price and to have them last only 3k miles. I'm hoping the QA1s last as long as a shock is supposed to.