whats everyone doing for car batteries these days??

This is incorrect. Johnson Controls sold their battery division to an investment company, who formed a new company called Clarios which makes Interstate and many other brands.
East Penn Manufacturing makes a few brands, such as NAPA and Deka. Then there is Exide, who makes a few brands. Those are the major battery makers.
I guess my CarQuest guy is as full of crap as I am. Lol. Still not very many manufacturers.