I think sometimes people have an unrealistic view of how much beating tools can take. A lighter duty tool is smaller and lighter but cannot be as robust as something larger and heavier.

There is also just plain junk out there.

A lot of people think Mora knives are the greatest things in the world because they are very functional, reasonably sharp, and fairly durable. Others claim they are junk because if you baton wood with them they break, or complain about the sheaths that are admittedly often pretty bad. But what do you expect for < $15.

To me it is crazy to blame a tool for breaking if the operator misuses it.