What you have stated above is exactly what I am doing. I know that there will be some people who have an axe to grind, pertaining to some manufacturers and I don't place to much weight on their opinion; however, if there are a number of unrelated negative claims I will research that manufacturer closer to uncover what the real problem is.
I tend to over build whatever project I dive into, so I'm trying not to over build too far (read that over spend). I'm also using a lot of quality used parts to stay within my budget.