i seldom pay any attention to a 'brand name'---i buy what is there- that is the right color- the right strength/weight for my project- so i have quite a selection-
i've had a few (quite expensive) threads i picked up at shows that my machine doesn't like- but i have a different machine that isn't so picky- and i can always use them for hand stitching-
when i first bought my viking the dealer told me to NEVER use coats & clark thread in it---made it sound as if i would do irreparable harm if i did---i was worried for the first 6 months or so---then one day i was working on something and needed a particular color- had the color & it was a C&C...i thought---well, what's the worse that can happen? and loaded it up---it worked just fine- the machine didn't start smoking & convulsing...since then i just don't worry about what brand it is- i use what i need or want at the time...& if i do have problems with one i just set it aside to use with a different machine- or i stick it into my hand project box...i like lots of different ones.