Alex, I'm in a very similar position to you, and I've asked similar questions on this forum before (without too much response). I just want you to be aware that some people on these forums have selected a brand and spent considerable money on that brand, and probably have a slanted perspective on what's good and what's not. I say this lightly and only for your own consideration.
I say it NOT to depreciate what anyone has to say. I recommend considering everyone's opinions, as they might be right! Overall, from what I can tell, it appears there's a LOT of subjectivity in opinions about the brands. Hopefully, enough people will contribute their experiences and opinions, and some patterns will arise that might demonstrate some truth!
