not only is quality control down but prices are up as is the potential for disaster. I have had bad luck with heaters as well, especially the stealths. They seem to last just past their warranty and then crap out. My luck with the via aqua has been bad too, the new ones seem to be a little better IME as far as not leaking. I run all my heaters off a Apex at the moment and doubt I'd ever go back to trusting the built in thermostat on a heater.