I had a Poulan Wild Thing that I replaced my MS290 with. The Poulan I had never had any issues with. In 2007 is cutting up fire wood. it had been running fine, then the next weekend I went to start it, it did not want to start. I noticed that the trigger interlock was not working. Took it to a shop and they tried to tell me that it needed a new carb, fuel line, filter along with the handle due to varnish in the system whicjh was bull. They sold Huskavarnah which I did not like at all. Got my Stihl and as you stated, pricey but worth every penny!!!!!