I had no idea that Rigid warrantied for life, I am going to have to check that out!
As far as Home Depot, they already got my business in air tools. I use a angle die grinder and 1/2 impact daily, and have found out one thing. It sure is nice to use the Home Depot stuff! I used to keep a kit to rebuild my 1/2 drive Mactools impact in the truck, and one day my impact jammed up. Stopped at Home Depot down the road and bought what I thought was going to be a Cheapy to get me by. Thing worked just as good as my Mac, and when one of the hammers broke Home Depot gave me another one! No more kits for me!
Same as my angle headed die grinders. When the drive goes out,stop and get a new one. And they even smile when they hand you a new one!