Your comment included the phrases "I think the quality has slipped at Rem recently." and "cutting corners" without any qualification as to whether it was their lower priced products or full priced products. That is casting a wide net and being negative about all things associated with the brand. In this context I think the label "bashing" is fair, and you seldom pass an opportunity to make similar statements.

I am probably guilty of bashing certain products also but I am trying to kick the habit. I made the mistake of responding to a post once about "best and worst" scopes for reliability and offended some loyal owners.

Apples to apples: Do you have a new Express that is lower quality than an old Express?

I have several Express models, both old and new, and see no difference. I also have a few Wingmasters (the full price 870), both old and new, and see no difference. The same can be said of the 700 rifles (I have quite a few). Those are the only Remington products that I have that are both old and new, but I see no evidence of declining quality when comparing apples to apples.