I have and like the 870 Express. I think it is the most durable and reliable pump gun on the market. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one to anyone looking for a quality shotgun.
I have also exchanged email with or spoken to several Norinco 982 owners, many of whom own 870s to compare with. Most have fired a couple of thousand rnds through their guns and examined them in side and out. I've handled several examples both gunshows and gunshops. I've even put some slugs through a borrowed one at the range. According to my limited experience and empirical data, it is a well-finished, smooth, reliable weapon based on proven design. I've no evidence to suggest that it will wear more rapidly than an 870, or become unreliable/dangerous due to substandard metallurgy. Norinco is capable of producing well made clones, like the Norinco 1911, SKS, UZI, Tokarev, and AK clones formerly imported. Are some Chinese made guns junk? Definitely. So are some American made guns. Is the 982 as durable as an 870? Maybe so, maybe not. Unfortunately the only one way to find out is for people to buy them and shoot the hell out of them. If they are junk, they'll break. Bad customer service/warrenty repair cures itself, eventually.
I'm not, however, going to use the straw man argument to discourage someone from buying a Norinco 982. If you want one, give it a try.
It's our duty as free informed citizens to debate just these sort of things, to state our positions and to continously evaluate those of our fellow members as well as our own. Dave, I think your opinion is just as important as mine to this process. No need to shut up or stop the rants. Rant away.