That here is one of the more sensible approach to buying expensive stuff, I guess.
Try the cheap shit until you know what to look for or it breaks. Then, if the opportunity arises (new household, new tools) get the best you can afford and what suits your requirements.
Thanks for the spontaneous nostalgia trip. I was playing it, or rather its sequel, in the 2000s after I got it from a magazine.
There's a HD Version of Seven Kingdoms 2 on Steam. I think I might grab it.