All I can tell you is that the three I have are excellent. The 3" M66, an older gun, had some crane play and a timing problem (though it fired fine), used gun at a gun show. I showed the guy at the table the timing problem and the crane play and got it down to $180 and bought it regardless. Got it home, took it apart. The only problem was somebody took it apart and put it back together with the wrong screw in the forward frame hole. The screw that goes there is longer and bares upon the crane holding it in place. Once I put the right screws in the right side plate holes, problems cured, perfect timing every cylinder, tight as a drum. This gun has been worn and fired, too, lots of holster wear. Now, if I was a Taurus basher, I could have looked at that gun, saw the timing problems, thrown up my hands in disgust and went and bought and equal quality M19 Smith for 4-500 bucks and been all snooty, but I knew better. ;D
Anyway, any time you buy a gun, used or new, Smith or Ruger or Taurus or Colt or Charter or whatever, pick it up and check cylinder timing, end shake, wobble, etc. You can even check cylinder alignment if you carry a bore light with you. Check it out thoroughly before purchase. Don't buy it if you see it's got a timing problem that might not be fixable or might affect the function of the gun. If it has ANY problem and it's a new gun, pass on it. Used guns, use any problems you find to bargain on the gun if you think it might be easily fixable or won't affect the function of the gun. I will never order a gun sight unseen. I want to check it out first, no matter the brand, used or new. It takes but a minute if you know what you're lookin' for to thoroughly check it out.
I've heard all these stories you mention, too, but frankly, I've yet to see any more problems with a Taurus than I have with a Smith. I've owned, do own both. But, I'm picky when I'm judging whether a gun is worthy of my hard earned money. I thoroughly check it out, first. I've passed on Smiths more often than Tauri, probably because more Smiths have seen heavy service and got rather worn over time. I had a beater of a 1917 Smith that shot okay after some gunsmithing, but that old war horse was comical at first. I ordered that one, 100 dollars in NRA "good". Wow, I don't know what their definition of "good" is, but it should be shootable without major smithing. LOL! I sold that one, but it was kinda cool, fired .45 ACP from moon clips. Didn't fire anything half way hot in it, though, near century old metallurgy if nothing else. If I'd checked it out first, I'd have passed. That taught me a lesson about ordering stuff, especially used stuff, sight unseen.