Sometimes, I believe on certain items after a certain price point there seems to be diminishing returns compared to other products, especially when looking at how the user will be using the product. It doesn't mean that that <brand y> isn't worth the money, but there are many times when <brand x> will suffice for the users intended purpose.
In the end, the value of something is what you place in it regardless of the cost. If you know nothing about guns, don't care about MIM vs tool steel, think that hand fitting is archaic and feel the best finish is bare plastic, then an Ed Brown would be totally lost on you even if you bought it for $300. But, if you value quality hand crafted workmanship and look at the end result of a good machinist as a form of art, then the value is well worth whatever it cost you.