interesting... so pros riding a World Industries wheel back then must mean they were actually decent too? I just figured Jason would be riding the wheels he got so it never occurred to me he would have been riding a Dogtown wheel (or was he sponsored by them?)
By the time i started skating (1998), Deck Company Wheels were basically seen as illegal / garbage (took me a few years to clue in i think...)
It has definitely changed.
Most wheels from non specific wheel brands (like deck brands) are all pricepoint wheels anyway, very few from what would be more the higher end of the scale, but there were still a few here and there in recent years that were more than that, eg those Quasi special wheels come to mind.
Back in the day, there were not as many options for wheels, with no one doing bulk cheap wheels the way they have now, so I think whatever wheels were out were still a decent quality, especially from those brands like World Industries, which were seen as the best back then, not sold out cheap rubbish the way they are now with the budget completes.
Got a set of World wheels from the mid 90s on a barely used board and they hold up really well, for the session I had on them just to see what they were like. Sort of a Classic Full shape in 56 mm so actually what I would be more interested to ride.
They are still no Spitfire Formula Four, so I guess now I am very spoilt for choice and don't need to ride anything else, even though I have wheels from quite a few brands on different boards that don't really get skated much.