Mostly all the brands are very good these days.I myself have a 2001 Honda 50hp fourstroke I have no complaints I have had nothing but reliability.I have had alot of success with Honda products cars,my current minivan and an old 1980 7.5hp 4 stroke all nothing but reliable time and time again.As for costly maitenance this is not the case for my Honda just change the engine oil when needed and change the gear oil before winter.Some say 4 strokes cost more in maintenance this is not at all my situation.My dealer sells Honda,Yamaha and Suzuki he tells me Honda's are the most reliable of the 3.My only beef with Yamaha is I needed an impeller kit last year for my 8hp 2 stroke kicker.Yamaha sells you an impeller kit without the impeller .Yup $25 extra for the impeller something like that will keep me away from yamaha .My dealer says they have an attitude problem.As for Suzuki had one a 55hp 2 stroke was not happy with it .My dealer says the new 4 strokes are reliable.I hit my prop in 2001 a prop shaft was back order from Japan for 3 weeks and the dealer says this is common with Suzuki.
Nice thing about Mercury is no matter where you are there usually is a dealer close by.
Would I buy a Honda again Hell Ya.I am 100 percent satisfied.The only thing about Honda is that they starting to update their technology after over a decade of leaving the motors as is.This year they updated the 75hp and 90hp engines.Most models still have carburators.Many of the newer motors(other brands) have all moved to fuel injection.
The E-Tech sounds like a good motor .Nippissing swears by his.
As for me I will stick with Honda the largest engine manufacturer in the world.
Good Luck with your purchase