Bought a Speed queen washer 20 months ago. The price was middle of the road not nearly high end. Stay away from bells and whistles on appliances. It's the electronics in them that are failing.
Gas water heaters used to have a pilot and a high temp safety (ECO). Then Congress mandated electronic ignition, ignoring that the pilot was only heating the water, along with vent dampeners and side power vents they have a lot more stuff. They also have about 1/3 the life but it is no longer the tank that leaks mandating change. The electronics are 65% of the cost of a new water heater and the labor to replace is almost the same so yo ugo with a new heater.