Kobalt tools and Craftsman tools are manufactured by Danaher Tools, and Danaher also manufactures the Matco and Armstrong brands. Thats not to say that they are the same quality because they are probably built at different factories using different specifications.

I've broken more Craftsman tools than anything else.

The best tools for the money IMO are SK tools. They are almost as good of a quality as Snap-On but much cheaper and they still have the free replacement. I try to buy all the SK I can afford. But since they aren't as easy to replace as the store brand tools (because they are sold through tool trucks and industrial supply stores), I have an extra set of store brand tools as backup for the things I use a lot.