Only real 'problem' with the stock 036 is the clutch drum/bearing that were recalled/upgraded to the beefier 360 kit. Without the upgreade they are prone to grenade. The smaller clutch drum/bearing from the 036 is an upgrade for the 290/310/390 saws though, and I have swapped them over to get rim drives on those saws.
As for the 361 vs. the 036/360? Depends on what you define as better. 036 has more stock torque and a tad more power (rated and real), is far easier and faster to tune, and the early model did not need any mods because the stock muffler was wide open. The vibration is considerably higher on the 036/360 with he rubber AV mounts than the spring mounted 361. The 361 revs higher and has less torque to get the similar power. Open the muffler on the 361 (shark gill or StihlBilly mod) and you re-gain the 'lost' EPA power. The 036 has screw-in oil and gas caps which I prefer over flippy caps. The 361 has quad ports, which is a definite improvement. The 361 is more prone to flooding if you do not know how to start them. I never use the decomp starting a cold 361. The PRO 036 has a decomp, the non-PRO does not (the only real difference between them). The oil pumps have the exact same outputs on the stock 036/360/361/362 saws. The 361/2 saws can be upgraded with the 460 and 460R oil pumps to get higher outputs, but the 036/360 pumps cannot. The owners manuals on the 036/360 say that a 20 inch bar is the limit, but the same output 361/2 saw manuals say a 25 inch bar is the limit. I have run a 25 on the 036 and the 361 with no problem. They weigh about the same and they are both slim model saws.
So its torque vs RPM, higher vibe rubber vs low vibe springs, clutch bearing mod vs. muffler mod, screw-in caps vs flippy caps. Having owned and run both, I would say that they are a dead heat overall. I prefer lower vibe saws and tend toward higher revving ones. I also prefer screw-in caps and easy to start and tune saws though.