I've had great luck with the craftsman tools. I've broken one very old socket, nothing else. The mechanics tool kits included standard sockets that are equal to the missing metric sockets.

I think it's better to know what you need, buy those tools, and make a kit. I bought one of the soft tool bags, the plastic socket holders, and pieced together a complete kit for the car. The cloth bag is nice, it can fit under the spare tire and I take it to the track with me.

 

I personally don't like overlapping sizes because all they are is the size that's slightly larger... for example, the 10mm-3/8th" is just a 10mm 6 point socket, when you use it on the 3/8th, it doesn't fit correct on the 3/8th, and puts pressure on the edges of the nuts... there's more chance of rounding over.

Craftsman has EVERY socket that you can desire... but the smaller SEARS stores don't carry them all because it's a waste of floor space. I have MAC, Snap-on, and MAT-co tools in my tool chests (I have 4, 5' tall tool chests), but the majority of hand-tools are craftsman. There is always a SEARS around... but the "Wednesday" guy isn't there on the sunday afternoon when you need that one deep well socket that you don't have.

My speciality tools are MAC, Snap-On. My every day grunt tools are craftsman. My Boxes are all MAC.