Opinions are like...
In the poll you can only choose one drum co., but many of us drummers have more than one kit, from more than one drum co.- and yes there are many manufacturers left off the list.
Sorry, Dizzy, but I never liked Pearl, so I can't agree with you that they are "the flat-out best". Maybe if you said 'Brady' or 'Noble & Cooley' or Baltimore Drums' or 'African Drum. Co.' ...
It's interesting to look back and see where our "opinions" come from:
When I first played a Pearl kit as a teenager, I could never get the two mounted toms to sit together, or place them where I needed them, plus they sounded like crap. Now, obviously I'm a little older (cough) and maybe a little wiser (maybe) ... I know that it was a low-line kit and the heads needed to be changed, but I still can't change my opinion.
I do, however, own a Pearl bass drum pedal that I really like.
So what's my point? I dunno, what was the point of this poll?