Seen quite a few Asian bats break due to willow dryness agree though along with James Laver best batmakers are in the UK.
Mine are going strong , knock on wood ...
Which situation is worse : bat breaking too soon or bat lasting forever and taking over a year to open up? I will happily take soft pressed performer any day. Willow dryness can be addressed, no problem.
I used to think that UK/NZ made bats were better than Pak made bats. In my experience (after wasting thousands of dollars, I have learned) that is not the case at all.