: The one surviving electric stapler here (cheap knockoff
: 'Powerfast'(?)) drove the staples flush.
: . . .
: Most of the electrics I've owned were not very reliable- 'brand
: name' seemed to be no indicator.
: The plastic housing around the 'hammer' area seems to warp/fail in
: some of them.

Probably a "Power Fist" - Chinese origin sold by Princess Auto, may be their shop brand. I have a PowerFist power sander and power planer, incredibly cheap and they work well, seem reasonably durable and they're the only handheld power tools I have with dust collection arrangements that actually work.

What you say about the reliability of 'brand names' is correct. I have a Stanley electric stapler that is dangerous (trigger pressure is a few grams - I have to be really careful) and lacks enough punch to sink a stapler more than 1/4" if that. Both dangerous and ineffective, a technological triumph! To quote Bart Simpson "I thought it was impossible, but it sucks and blows at the same time" . . .

Stanley's hand planes are not what they used to be, I have two of their low angle block planes, one old, one much newer, they look similar but there's no comparison in the performance and the blade on the new one has to be sharpened at a higher angle or it gets chipped by softwood. Then there's the Bosh palm router, lovely little tool but always hungry for a finger or two. It's a pity that Veritas don't make power tools, but then who could afford them?