I wasn't slamming the Italian guns, Pietta in particular. I have one of their Remington New Army revolvers through EMF, and it's a quality product in every respect.
The point I was trying to make is because the dollar's value in international markets is dropping like a rock dropped in a pond, the cost of Italian cap & ball revolvers, as well as other European imports - including firearms of all kinds - is going to go up, and maybe substantially. This could make American guns more attractive, but not necessarily better from a quality point of view. That's something we'll have to wait and see.
This said, USFA has an excellent reputation for quality, although you have to pay or it. Other posts have noted that at $1000 or more the USFA would be priced out of their range. On the other hand if it sold for less (street price is often different then MSRP) while the European guns were becoming more expensive we might have a new ballgame.
Broken lockwork can often be associated with the way an action was set up. During the 19th century Colt and Remington final assemblers went through extensive training and practice before they were allowed to build revolvers. The Italians didn't get that. American importers simply arrived with a few original guns and said, "Here - make something exactly like this."
I have examined and/or handled a fair number of original guns and noted that a number of well-used ones still work fine, and have their original lockwork - including springs. That says something about the way they were put together.
Today's European steel is not inferior the the steels used in original American revolvers. In fact during the 1860's Colt imported steel from Europe to get the best available material. However for the most part (excluding springs) the frames and other parts are not heat treated. As a result they are relatively soft - as were the originals - and while Colt frames are colored to look case hardened they really aren't. But all things considered they still represent an excellent value for the money, and in general stand up pretty well.