I can verify the saw blades are different and you can easily verify it too. Go to a store such as woodcraft, rocker etc and find a 10 inch 40 tooth general purpose saw blade, measure the carbide tooth size. Find the same brand blade at lowes and the carbide portion of the tooth is going to be smaller, not a big deal if you throw the blade away instead of sharpening it.
I use to have a Dewalt precision trim blade (made by freud) that was a nice blade for home improvement work, made in Italy, same blade at Lowes is made in China with less carbide, probably lower grade.
Since the original topic is mowers compare John Deeres from Lowes vs Carolls.