OK, support your argument with facts as well.
Why was it never that great a pistol and less so today?
(Satisfied Browning owner here.)
Answer last question first: Many better pistols have long since superceded it
Over the years I have owned two commercial Browning FN P-35's, the first one was prone to malfunction and close inspection showed crappy workmanship, the second one looked great, functioned even worse. Trigger was like trying to pull a 20 pound weight to get it to go off.
Several brands and types of different ammo did not help at all. I did get the last one to function reliably once, with some very hot 9mm submachine gun ammo, but I was afraid it was going to beat it to pieces.
My first good quality pistol was a commercial HP. I still remember I paid $104.50 for it at Kings Hardware. The workmanship was exquisite. I have probably owned 20 since and have three now. These include Canadian Inglis, Argentine, FN, WWII German occupation made, and unlicensed Hungarian copies.
All have been 100% reliable with the lone exception of that first one. I once let a 100lb girl shoot it with 90 grain super vels. It jammed once, I am sure because She limp wristed it.
That claim of poor workmanship just makes me shake my head. The pistol is famous for the fit and finish.