Personally, I like Bondhuus and Wera (both with ball ends, and 1 set I have with moulded-on handles, across the short, non-ball end). Very nice.
BUT I also have at least a couple of cheapo DIY sets without ball ends, AND I collect odds n sods in both Imp and Metric - stuff like the throwaways that come with Ikea furniture for example.
Absolutely agree with above posters that ball-ends are VERY useful indeed, but should NEVER be used for the initial loosening and final tightening. For that/those jobs use a short, non ball end key that fits snugly - if necessary using a thin shim (layer of ali cooking foil) - ior sometimes an Imp in a metric of vice-versa - to ensure snug fit. Remember that lots of the machines of all types we come across these days are fitted with low-cost socket head bolts and machine screws - often made of poor materials and to wide tolerances in the head socket - hence the above ali cooking foil etc tricks.
Remember too that ball ends should ONLY be used at not more than about an (eyeballed) angle of about 15 degrees off centre line. But absolutely invaluable for socket heads that are hard to reach (AFTER loosening with a non-ball end first).
Personally I also make it a practice to replace the socket head bolts on just about every tool I need to strip with high quality/close tolerance fasteners from a local specialist factors. NOT cheap but a relatively small expense to save tears and frustration in the future.
