It's hard to convince me that swinging a cheaper machine will be as good as the higher priced machine with the same experience/time given on both machines.
I had always bought the top end Whites-then switched to Minelab-the to Deus.
Reasons for the latest switch96yrs ago) was the weight factor-swinging 5.5 lbs vs 2 lbs.
At the end of the day the body feels it when the years get on.
I figure if I can afford it why not get the best, and learn it.
I've looked at other models, read/watched reviews, waited, and then made the decision.
Usually about a year after the release of the machines.
Has everyone been spot on,

still I wonder about a few machines.
One doesn't really have any idea if one machine is better than the other unless they're not digging it.
Many years ago a fellow was using one of those yellow Garrett machines.
I had a Minelab SE and had a few years of experience on it already as he did on his.
Though I had probably 40yrs of experience under the belt over him.
(But I don't doubt the abilities of a newbie.
Seen that proven many times over and over again.)
I would find a target, he would try with his machine. I would dig up a IH, or a LC, a button.
Each time he stated when he could even hear the chirp, he would have passed on it.
The very next day he bought a SE.
His posts off quality keepers went way up also.
I guess some will never step out of the comfort zone from the mid range to the higher end, and that's alright.
There's nothing wrong in that, nor is the old machine that somebody has-that have thousands of hours on it. knowing every sound, and what the target is probably. That alone is the winning factor between machine and operator is the time on that "one" machine.
(That has always been my

on how people buy so many machines, and believe they're actually getting the best out of those machines)
I guess it comes also down to those that post up their finds, and those that never do post anything.
Why is that?
They do find things I hope as they're really experienced in picking out of every aspect of the machine not being used by them-yet I fail to see that they are even getting a find to post.