You are going to find good and bad in every brand of fabric. I don't look at the name of the manufacturer...If ordering online, I take that into account, but it's not my deciding factor. If I buy a fabric online (usually batiks & muslins), I check it when the order comes in...if it's not up to my standards/needs, then I contact the company and return it. I've only had to do this twice in 10 years...so, not bad.
All those cottons you tossed because they weren't name brands, probably were just fine...I'd have used them, or donated them to charity.