I also will NEVER buy another P.O.S. tool from Sears. They have the worst customer service, and as you said, Do not honor the warranties like they used to. I have needed to replace 2 of their tools; I did not 'abuse' either of them.
Although they were supposedly "lifetime" warranty,
I just got a hard time when I tried to exchange them. I think if they discontinue an item with a lifetime warranty, they should at least give you a discount on the replacement.