Does anyone else think the OPC drum gets blamed far less than it should?

I’ve noticed that when print quality drops, the first reaction is almost always to replace the toner cartridge.

But in my experience, if the issue is ghosting, repeating marks, gray background, or uneven image density, the OPC drum is often the component causing the problem rather than the toner itself.

Since the drum is responsible for creating the electrostatic image, it makes sense that any wear or damage will directly affect image quality, regardless of how much toner is left.

For those who repair or maintain copiers regularly:

• What’s your troubleshooting order when customers complain about poor print quality?
• How often does the drum turn out to be the real culprit?
• Have you noticed significant differences in lifespan between drum manufacturers?

I’m curious to hear how others approach diagnosing these issues.