To be fair i would say he's right, Honda are living of past reputations, the old Big Reds and 350's are still bomb proof and probably a better buy than any modern quad if u can find 1.
Honda's are still excellent bikes but the other brands have all caught up with them (some folk would say surpassed them? really personal preference) Honda's chasis and racks are not as strong as they once were, built more for the americain market, running about paddocks etc rather than the abuse they get here by farmers/shepherds and esp keepers
I run an ES but keep it under warranty so change it every 18-24month, usually when it needs new tyres, must admit never really misses a beat but had odd things replaced under warranty that i would not like to pay for, but do a fairly high milage.
Some hill boys dinae like power steering as makes steering too responsive so if u hit a tussock etc can almost flip the bike (but other hill boys love them
)
Is power steering not a fairly new thing? Know my dad got a good deal 3 years ago as last Yamaha's of that model without power steering
Like anything the more complicated the more to break and esp with electrics can be hard to find, know 1 shoot had major problems with the ES/Auto Honda (sort of top of range 1) needed a new wiring loom eventually which was affecting its gears so would hardly drive