I gotta say, I wasn't what would be considered an Echo fan even whenever I decided to open up my store and sell the Echo stuff.
I picked them up because it was reasonable terms and a good start for a smaller guy.
I there past 2 years I've sent quite a few pieces of Echo stuff out there, mainly to the local market and have had only a few warranty issues pop up. Mainly related to batteries or ignition coils.
All the modern lineup of saws/trimmers/blowers all drop dead simple to work on, correct out of the box and reliable and loved by the owner. I sell it to my neighbors and feel good about it. Never had a warranty claim denied. Stand up company. Some of the older stuff is a little more challenging to work on, but that's what it is.
They may not have cutting edge technology in 'em and the marketing wank/cult of personality around 'em but they're damn good stuff in my real world experience. Back in the more "enthusiast" days I didn't really even consider Echo a player and even when I picked them up I had the premeditated notion they were a "second-tier" brand.
I was incorrect.
I remembered when I picked up Husky I figured it would be a free ticket to sell as much equipment as I ordered and that it would DWARF my Echo sales.
Incorrect, again.
In this area it's got a great name and is in demand. I think there's a reason for that.