I'd say somewhere between factory and your mate getting them, someone f#cked with them. I've seen a brand new barrel completely f#cked by a gunshop using a bore-sighter to set up a scope for a bloke. The fact that they were both from the same gunshop makes me think you may have isolated the problem.
Easier for Sako, or, ( most likely ), the shop in question, to just exchange than prove, not worth the hassle.
As for the ejection problems, even the "expert" in your video states that he didn't know whether it was just a scope mounting problem or not.
There is always the "idiot" factor to contend with no matter what brand of rifle you are talking about.
Fact: Sakos are renowned for their extraction, that's why people get
Sako extractors put in their Remingtons, ( and their clones ) , especially in high end target rifles. They do this for reliability.
It's pretty obvious that you like your Howas, that's good, each to his own. But, putting s**t on other brands when a problem with them is discussed, doesn't solve the problem.
Happy hunting.