You aren't wrong, there are only so many foundries making the parts. Barrels are a different story IMO. Barrel quality and the assembly process of the barrel to the upper makes the difference in accuracy. I think the manufacturers recommended here will mostly find a balance between reliability...
I've hunted a fair amount with the 10mm, and have had great results with the XTP 180gr on deer and hogs, mostly one shot kills when I've done my part (did have to run a hog down and put a second one in him last fall). I've used the factory Underwood offering and more or less replicated it using...
My standard all around 38 "plinking but would still work on an SD situation" is a 158gr coated cast semi wadcutter with 3.5gr of tighgrouo behind it. Comfortable to shoot, cheap to load, and the hard cast will penetrate whatever if it came down to using these for SD.
Max is far superior to the previous LCP iterations. The sights alone entire that, let alone mag capacity. With that said, they are finicky with ammo selection, and of the four I've been around, none have been 100% reliable. I'd personally rather pocket carry a Jframe, but that's why we have options.
Got out of a voodoo and into a b14r carbon, and then into a steel version. The steel balances better IMO. It shoots well, but has to find ammo it agrees with, like any rimfire. Is it a Voodoo? Not likely....but it doesn't have the same price tag either.