Almost all of the electronics you use are from china nowadays even the japanese and korean companies are outsourcing it.

Fender ( not squier) had a few porduction runs in china and the build quality is rather good if you ask me it. The one I have outplays many MiMs.

Not saying "millenial" knowledge is somehow the superior one the boomer comment was somewhat tongue in cheek.

I personally just feel like a condenser microphone is a better tool for the job as opposed to the swiss army knife a sm57 is. Even if that means a "budget" mic.

Perhaps due to your experience with the mic you can make it sound a lot better than I can. Perhaps this is a case of your knowledge blocking the viewpoint of a less experienced individual?

I just think you're making the at2020 out to be a lot worse of a microphone than it really is. Perhaps you're comparing it with the several rode's you have laying around.