Hi Toph
Re Lithium batteries
There are lots of guys with opinions on Youtube.
One guy that I take seriously is Kevin Bothby.
He is a full time live aboard with a circumnavigation in the engineless Ruth Avery. under his belt.
5 years ago he switched to Lithium batteries. and he has had no problems since then.


Re your question "Has Lithium just come down to brand name or is there still a bog difference in the cells?"
My answer, We used to say you get what you pay for.
Now with rebranding that is not so set in stone.
Distributors buy in bulk and then rebrand, so it has become really difficult to discern between expensive = the best and expensive = a rebrand.
Made in China or assembled in the U.S?
Assembled in the U. S. (or any other country) could just mean slipped into the shipping cardboard box.
Check Kevin's take. I might help you decide.

gary