I've heard this argument about small engines forever, but in the 40 odd years I've been using ethanol blended gas, I've never noticed anything "special" about small engines that makes them prone to damage from ethanol. And at this point, if they can't handle the blend, that's on the engine manufacturers, IMO.
If people are seeing issues with small engines, I suspect it is because of the way they are used. With a car, you fill up, use the gas in a week or two, and get more. But with small engines, often you'll (not saying you personally, of course) buy a five gallon can which sits around gathering moisture out of the air for the few months it takes to go through.
That being said, I think the blend idea is stupid, and mandates and subsidies are just down right wrong.
Oh yeah, small engines also tend to have carborators, which, over time, tend to require more maintenance than fuel injection. If small engines required more fuel system maintenance, it would be easy to attribute that to a fuel issue, but that doesn’t make it true (or false).
Good points, all.
I started using premium gas five or six years ago. My chainsaws are over 20 year old.
Yes, I used blended gas when they were new, but always made sure the fuel tank was empty before they were winter stored.