The only problem I've ever heard about Volvo's is some operators (mainly my brother) complain about the jumping the boom does when you have the stick and boom all the way stretched out and pull the bucket towards you, it jumps for about the first 3 feet, they have touchy pilots and I never had that problem.
I operated a brand new Volvo EW180 for a couple of weeks last fall and never liked those controls, felt like you had very little control over the valves, all or nothing. It was equiped as a material handler with a grip so it migh have helped to tweaked the pilot pressure a little. I operated a slightly older Volvo EC240 after the 180 and that had really nice and smooth controls.
Volvo ARE Akerman. Volvo just built backhoes before they bought Akerman and changed logos. Then they bought Samsung and maybe joining those two will make a great excavator? Sturdiness and quality from Akerman and speed, reach and no leaks from Samsung?
As I understand LB, Case and Sumitomo are just different brands for the same excavator right? I operated a JCB/Sumitomo a few years back before they split up, A JS200 I think it was called. It was nice and smooth and strong as a bear, it would keep up with a 240 sized machine all day. Had a nice and quiet Isuzu that didn't waste diesel.