mate merc built mariner to fill a market need for cheaper options for people who didint want to pay as much, now if there dear as u say then i guess there not trying to help anyone with price anymore , i do know that ive hardly ever heard bad reports in fact mariners have been reliable.. spose the fact old ones for sale are still running means they go the distance.,, there not a cheap chinese quality engine, but im not sure with the newer ones how there built, but i havent heard too many bad things over the years,, and merc would be baggin there name if there mariners were crap...