[kompressornsc]

For 'major' fluids, I stick with what Honda recommends (although I do use Mobil 1 instead of Dino Oil). But for Tranny, coolant, brakes, I would use what was recommended. I think the main issue is what the seals are made of. When I had my MB, a lot of people had a problem becasue they were putting power steering fluid in the power steering. Big no-no in an MB. Eats the seals and leaks. They take hydraulic fluid.
The MM isn't too bad. It just gets annoying that you have to reset it every time you start the car when you get the 'due soon' message. I just went 500+ miles over my B1 in my Ridgeline and had to listen to that stupid little chime for close to 1000 miles.
And yes, somehow the MM does really monitor the oil. First couple of changes, the MM let me go about 4,500 miles on dino oil. Then I switched to Mobil 1 and the MM now goes off about every 8,000 miles.