As with most things, camping/survival gear has a maximum value point. That is to say, cheap stuff is really crappy, then as the price goes up the value goes up until you hit some point where the price keeps going up but the value doesn't go up as much. This corner is where you should choose your gear.
For a concrete example, cheap LED flashlights can be had for a few dollars, but they are plastic and not waterproof, better ones are metal and like $10-$30 and are very durable and are probably the best value, then you have the crazy surefire, fenix ones that are $75 and up and they may be somewhat brighter, but really, how bright do you need to light up your stairs in a blackout?
Must...fight...the...gadget...lust...