My new hot take is that modern mid priced equipment plays better and sounds better than a lot of high end stuff from the 90s/2000s. Most pickups have not significantly changed but sweet jesus, modern digital amps in the $300-500 range blow away most of the $1000+ digital stuff from then. The fit and finish on the $300-500 import guitars rivals or surpasses that of older $1000+. Yeah, its cheaper materials, but they are getting really well made with excellent setups out of the factory now.

All that said. I really want a guitar with a nitro finish. I love the way they smell, especially a hollow body...