Here's where I put in my opinion on the subject.
I've seen Warn winches used time and time again to extract vehicles from the most stuck, most precarious, most dangerous, and possibly most deadly situations people have gotten themselves and their rigs into. Sometimes it's not just about getting yourself out of the mudhole you got yourself stuck in, it's your lifeline to make it up (or possibly down?) that scary obstacle you're attempting, or to recovery a rig from the side of a mountain, and on and on. These are the times you don't want your equipment (vehicle or winch) to fail, because it could have serious consequences, other than just maybe having to walk home.
Personally, I love my Warn M8000. It's gotten me out of some of the aforementioned "sticky situations", and I've never had to worry about whether the winch itself will work or not. It just does, even after being soaked in rain for years, used and put away wet, had too much cable spooled on it, and various other things that I and it's previous two owners did to it. I'm starting to push its limits though, and will start looking for either an 8274 or a 9500.
However, there is more to it than just the winch. The winch is just one part of the equation. Safe operation, maintenance, and an electrical system that's up to the task are just as important. I think for most practical purposes, any of the major winch manufacturers make a good product, but you need to know how to use it smart, maintain it, and make sure your rig's electrical system is up to extended winching.
Buy the winch of your choice, but remember you get what you pay for in this case... namely speed and reliability. Get a battery with lots of CCA's, something heavy duty that's designed for quick discharges and recharges (optima, odyssey, stinger, etc etc... NOT deep cycle), keep your cable in good shape (toss it or cut it short if you have kinks, frays, or any other questionable spots... or maybe use synthetic line, something I have not upgraded to yet), and when you do need to use the winch, don't get all riled up and bothered... settle down, take your time, keep your head straight, and be safe. Oh yeah, and buy a snatch block too because you'll use it.
