I always try to purchase OE quality.
The good independent repairer has two problems.

For every clued-up thoroughgoing professional technician, there are probably ten people out there that couldn't be trusted to bolt the wheel onto a wheelbarrow. These repairers shop on price and being the larger group, tend to dictate what the factors stock and sell.

OE quality costs more. Many customers, even if they are smart enough to choose a good mechanic or repairer, still have it fixed in their mind that the independent should sell parts cheaper than the dealer. Large dealer groups, with the economy of scale and these days the need to keep their workshops operating at full capacity, will often sell OE parts at the same price as the independent. Hence, in desparation, the good guy will sometimes have to sell parts from a second tier supplier to get the job.
Not hard and fast rules, there are exceptions, but it does seem to be a developing trend.