Are all "Batterries" equal? I need to purchase one...

[71 super]

I have had the same optima for 9 years and has been "deep cycled" twice, once for horn short and once for voltage regulator, it is still ticking with no issue. I also have the red top in my 2000 GMC - I only got 8 years out of the original delco in it before the terminal melted out of one side- a common problem with delcos now I am told, and I replaced the no quality duralast tha was in the gold truck with a optima and have had no issues with it and I was a blem I got from a friend of mine who works for interstate (restickers by interstate, but optima) After the first of these, I will buy nothing else. I do have one of the deka batteries in my harley and it seems to be holding up well, but we shall see, the bike tends to eat batteries fairly quickly...