[Arran]

As far as I can recall Midwest cut corners more in the hardware department then in the circuitry, wafer tube sockets, thinner sheet metal in the chassis, etc.
They may have used some cut rate components, they would have had to with what they were offering for the prices they advertised. I have not heard any complaints about a lack of performance, and the circuit diagrams do not indicate too much for redundant tubes. I seem to remember that some of their cabinets were not the best using thinner plywood, cheaper wood species in certain parts, I guess it depends on which cabinet you ordered. But they would not have been the first to cut costs through the cabinet, Philco did the same on many models, the model 16 and 116 tombstone cabinets used good veneer on the front panel and shaded lacquer on the rest but they are still excellent radios.
Best Regards
Arran