I just now accidentally found this topic while "googling"and although
the forum happened months ago, I have to add my comments. I have a
Ryobi AP-10 planer that I bought when they first hit the market years
ago. I have run literally thousands of feet of rough cut lumber as
well as dimensioned, through it....no that's NOTan
exaggeration.....and have never replaced a single part. It's been
used and abused. I have rarely even sharpened the blades and most of
the time they needed it. But due to my laziness, I just wanted to get
the boards planed. This of course, adds to the strain on the planer,
but it just keeps on "hogging" it's way through. It has been
probably the most reliable tool in my shop. In recent times I find
myself "drooling" on the new wider planers. That is until I look at
the quality, price tags and disposable blades. I wish it was wider
than ten inches, but it's not. But I have never been sorry that I
bought it.

At the same time I bought a Ryobi orbital jig saw. Although it hasn't
seen nearly as much use, I can say the same for it.

No. In my opinion, no, they haven't always been junk.