The fact that it was OK in the past, is no guarantee it will be now.

Lowes does not stick to a reliable or single source of product. And even brands you might think are OK, are not. I have a "Watts brand" 3/4" x 4" brass threaded nipple,t hat should have lasted 100 years. But Watts has gone from being a US company to a little US stuff and a lot of Chinese stuff. The nipple has a pinhole in the body, between the threads. Naturally, I had put it underground when I replaced my fathers pressure reducing valve . . . so it was a huge mess to repair.

Some Chinese made product is OK, but most of it suffers high rates of defects. That means 90% is OK, but if you are the 1 in 10 that gets the P. o. S., watch out!