The real reason HD & Lowes have identical products with unique model
numbers is not to protect themselves or the competition. I's because
both stores buy in job lots of popular products run specially for them,
which meet their "price points." Behr paint at HD is NOT the same as
Behr paint at a professional, specialty paint store. It's watered down
and contains less pigment.

A Milwakee sawzall purchased at a plumbing or electrical supply house
or a tool store is not the same as the ones sold in the big box stores,
which will have replaced some metal parts with plastic, and have
thinner windings around the motors, and replaced the rubber cord with
thermoplastic.