Yep HD ball valves suck. Try and find a local irrigation supply store near you and buy from them. The sch40 ball valves they sell will be much better quality. All HD stuff is homeowner grade stuff. Irrigation store will be contractor grade and much better. I was a landscape contractor for a nunber of years and can tell you from experience the irrigation store will have better quality parts. As far as pipe either HD or a irriation supply stuff will be exactly the same except the irrigation store will most likely sell in 20' lengths and HD will be 10'.