I feel your pain, I too have been researching a new frig and I have concluded they are all junk. I am going to be forced to spend the extra $$$ for the extra add-on 5 year warranty, but I am sure 5 years later and 1 day is when it will go out! I have been told that GE and Whirlpool have the least amount of service calls, but they are also the most unattractive in my opinion..

It makes me sick that KA has dropped their counter-debt side-by-side that I prefer and now only offers it with that danged in-door dispenser. They're the first thing to break and I don't like the "cluttered" look of it. My KA looks more like a SZ but I could never afford that.

HD has a Kitchen Aid counter depth frig with the water dispenser inside but we do not like the huge rods they are using for their handles.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/KitchenAid-20-cu-ft-French-Door-Refrigerator-in-Stainless-Steel-Counter-Depth-KRFC300ESS/205905754

My biggest gripe is what they call RPWFE filters. The frig requires you only use their filters at $50 a pop and you HAVE to replace it or your water will not work, So now your frig is costing you another $100 every year. That is menacing.

I did find some hacks that can bypass the system but only until they can figure out another way to screw the consumer.

Another gripe is all the ice maker compartments are half the size of my current one.

Regularly replacing water filters is a wonderful idea, unless you have a whole house water filter already. If you do, then a bypass assembly that eliminates the filter is probably a better choice. And I think you can usually get these for most fridges.

Yes, small point-of-use filters are expensive. A whole house filter does amortize its initial cost pretty quickly.

Or, you could look for a fridge that doesn't have a water dispenser in the first place. Then this all becomes moot. That also gives you more usable space and it removes the primary failure mode for most fridges.

Or if a particular model with water dispensing (and ice maker) that has other desired features ends up otherwise being the best model of choice, then don't use the water and ice, don't connect a water line to it at all.

I hate, hate, hate our 7 year old Samsung french door model. Something leaks inside and creates an iceberg in the rear of the fridge under the deli drawer. It is a known defect and I've tried the fixes online and nothing helps. Every month I have to disassemble the deli drawer and chip out ice like I remember my mother doing before the days of frost free freezers.

We have the counter depth Samsung 4 door French door Samsung with door water/ice dispenser. It was the middle drawer that I really wanted, and I do love that. The ice maker has been terrible and that is the problem with these refrigerators. (Most brands have trouble, from what I've read.) We have replaced all the parts on the ice maker though and it seems to be working ok now. (Knock on wood!)

I'd be fine with the ice maker in the freezer and even no water dispenser, but I don't think anyone makes a French Door counter depth with the middle drawer without the ice/water on the door. That would be my dream refrigerator.

Is the water/ice dispenser on the door important to you? I really think the majority of the negative reviews come from the ice maker being inside of the refrigerator. They work better when part of the freezer. I think that HD KitchenAid linked to above would be what I would choose to avoid all the problems. I would be sad to give up my outside drawer, though.

Samsung appliances definitely look great...the most ascetically pleasing hands down. I am a practical girl though..longevity is the most important thing to me, but my husband loves the water dispenser. Also, why is it that you cannot get a whole matching set of good quality appliances. While Bosch makes the best dishwasher, the frig gets a C+ at best.

I think I will have to choose Kitchen Aid even if the style is too industrial.

I am the first one to tell people not to buy a unit with the ice maker in the fridge. This is a recipe for water disaster as we all know ice melts when exposed to temperatures above 32F. While playing around at the appliance store however I found this FPBS2778UF. A feature that may be worth the purchase if you just need a water dispenser on the door. It has both an ice maker in the freezer and in the fridge. The cool thing about it is you can shut off the ice makers independent of each other. Even with the ice makers off, you still get water from the dispenser. Ice is in the freezer if you need to chill your glass of water. The one off thing about it is the water that comes from the dispenser is not chilled. The other thing I am not thrilled about is the space the ice maker in the refrigerated section takes up. Other than that seems to be a decent unit. Even with the ice maker there is lots of room according to the reviews I have read. May be worth a look?